Israeli military strikes kill at least five people in southern Lebanon and issue forced displacement orders, citing Hezbollah ceasefire violations.
6:59 PM
Israeli forces resumed air and artillery attacks across southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing at least five people and ordering residents of 24 towns to evacuate their homes, according to Lebanese and Israeli sources.
The Israeli military, through Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichai Adraee, issued evacuation orders affecting communities in the Nabatieh district and surrounding areas. The orders came after Israeli officials said Hezbollah militias had violated an existing ceasefire agreement.
Among those killed was Ali Badie, mayor of the Ar-Rihan municipality in the Jezzine district, who died in an Israeli strike. One person was killed in an airstrike targeting the town of Maarakeh in the Tyre district. Three additional deaths occurred in the towns of Deir al-Zahrani and Kafr Reman in Nabatieh district, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
Israeli strikes also struck the towns of Kfar Houna, Srifa, and Al Twairy. In Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, Israeli assaults at dawn destroyed homes and government structures, the National News Agency reported.
Israel said seven members of Hezbollah were killed in the operations. Lebanese sources reported several additional people were wounded in the attacks.
The resumption of hostilities occurred despite a United States-brokered ceasefire that had been in effect. The attacks continued as diplomatic efforts proceeded regarding a potential agreement between the United States and Iran, with reports indicating a deal could be signed on Sunday.
According to Israeli media sources, the Israeli military is preparing to halt ground operations in southern Lebanon as part of a framework agreement being negotiated between Washington and Tehran. However, security sources indicated that Israeli forces would not withdraw from what they described as a "safe zone" in southern Lebanon under the terms of a potential deal, with the issue of Israeli military presence to be decided through future negotiations.
Multiple air strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday killed at least 13 people, including women and children, as fighting continues despite a three-week ceasefire extension.
Three consecutive attacks struck rescue workers responding to an airstrike in Mayfadoun, killing at least four paramedics and wounding several others.
Israeli forces captured territory north of the Litani River over the weekend. Netanyahu cited Hezbollah ceasefire violations in ordering attacks on Dahieh suburb.
A 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah began Friday, displacing over one million Lebanese residents and complicating Netanyahu's political position domestically.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an acceleration of military operations against Hezbollah, saying over 600 militants have been eliminated in recent weeks.
Amal Khalil, a correspondent for Al-Akhbar newspaper, was killed Wednesday in an airstrike. Lebanon's prime minister accused Israel of war crimes.