Israel kills 14 in southern Lebanon strikes as ceasefire crumbles

Smoke rises from targeted areas in the town of Kefr Tibtin in Lebanon's Nabatieh province following an Israeli airstrike. (Photo/AA)

Lebanon's health ministry has said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed 14 people despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The ministry confirmed that the dead include two women and two children, adding that 37 other people have been wounded.

The figures were reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry and the state news agency, which also said the Israeli army carried out demolitions targeting homes and infrastructure between the towns of Yaroun and Bint Jbeil in the south.

In the Tyre district, Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on the town of Burj Qallawiyeh, alongside gunfire toward the towns of Mansouri and Bayt al-Sayyad in the same area, the news agency said.

In the Nabatieh district, an Israeli strike targeted the town of Kfar Tebnit, while artillery shelling hit the town of Arnoun and the Ali al-Taher forest area.

Israeli warplanes also conducted raids on Zawtar al-Sharqiya in the same district, reportedly destroying a mosque and a religious hall.

In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli forces targeted the town of Beit Yahoun, alongside three raids on Burj Qallawiyeh, one on Kafra, and another on the area between Jbal El Botm and Sadiqin, according to the agency.

Israeli violations continue

Hezbollah stated that its attacks against Israeli positions are in retaliation for Israel's "persistent" violations of the agreement.

While a 10-day truce took effect on 17 April before being extended by three weeks, Hezbollah said it "clearly and decisively affirms that Israel's continued violations of the ceasefire, its attacks, home demolitions and continued occupation of Lebanese territory... will be met with a response."

The group said that Israel has committed 500 violations of the ceasefire since 17 April.

Hezbollah described its shelling of settlements in northern Israel as "a legitimate response" to these breaches.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced the death of one soldier and injuries to six others in ongoing battles in southern Lebanon.

"An extension of the truce by additional weeks was supposed to lead to a genuine ceasefire," Hezbollah said, noting that Israeli aggression escalated instead.

Israel pounded Lebanon with air strikes and launched a ground offensive following a cross-border attack on 2 March.

Since then, expanded Israeli attacks killed more than 2,500 people and displaced over 1 million, according to Lebanese authorities.

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Source: TRT