Seven Killed in Fresh Israeli Attack on Southern Lebanon

Seven people were killed and three others injured after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in the village of Ansar in southern Lebanon early Saturday, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

The attack was among the deadliest in Lebanon since the country agreed to a U.S.-mediated peace framework with Israel. Under the agreement, Israeli forces are to remain in parts of southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed and the Lebanese army assumes control.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticised the agreement on Friday, describing it as an arrangement imposed by Israel and accepted by Lebanese authorities.

The Israeli military said its forces struck Hezbollah infrastructure overnight in what it called a security zone in southern Lebanon, saying the operation was carried out in response to actions targeting Israeli soldiers.

Israel seized parts of southern Lebanon during its war with Hezbollah earlier this year, which began after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said during a visit to southern Lebanon on Thursday that Israeli forces would not withdraw from areas under their control until Hezbollah is disarmed. However, a U.S. State Department official said a permanent Israeli military presence in the area would not be consistent with commitments under the agreement.

Lebanese authorities say at least 4,300 people have been killed in the latest round of hostilities since March 2.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share