Israel launches deadly strikes in Lebanon, warns residents beyond 'buffer zone' to flee
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Israeli strikes killed 14 people and wounded 37 on Sunday, Lebanon's health ministry said, as the Israeli army warned residents to leave seven towns beyond the “safe zone” that was in place before a ceasefire that failed to stop full-scale fighting.
The number of those who died on Sunday included two children and two women, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. Israel said one of its soldiers was also killed as the fragile ceasefire deal was strained.
An Israeli army spokesman said in a statement to X that the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was violating the ceasefire agreement and that Israel would oppose it, telling people to head north and west away from the cities. The villages north of the Litani River and the southern Lebanon area occupied by Israeli forces, continued military operations despite the ceasefire. The military said they hit Hezbollah fighters, rockets and a weapons depot.
“From our point of view, what binds us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, the security of our communities,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
“We are acting strongly according to the rules that we agreed with the United States, and, by the way, with Lebanon.”
Hezbollah has said it will not stop attacking Israeli forces inside Lebanon and in northern Israeli cities as long as Israel continues to “breach the ceasefire.”
The Iran-backed group added in a statement that it would not wait for talks that “proved ineffective” or rely on Lebanese authorities that “failed to protect the country.”
Earlier on Sunday, Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli soldiers inside Lebanon as well as the soldiers who came to evacuate them. The Israeli army said one soldier was killed and six others were wounded. Israel's military said it intercepted three drones before they landed in Israeli territory on Sunday, after sirens sounded in northern Israel.
The US-led cease-fire, which began on April 16 and was extended until mid-May, has brought a significant reduction in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, although the two sides have continued to fire at each other, accusing the trade of violating the law.
Israel's killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil has complicated efforts to extend the fragile accord and simmered anger in southern Lebanon, where many believe Israel is targeting whoever it wants, despite the deal.
More than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the most recent war between Hezbollah and Israel began on March 2, days after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
The number includes 277 women, 177 children and 100 doctors, according to the Ministry of Health in Lebanon.
The service does not otherwise distinguish between soldiers and civilians, and Hezbollah has not announced the total number of its soldiers. This group has buried a number of fighters in group funerals in recent days.
Hezbollah attacks have killed two people in Israel and 16 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since March 2, Israel said.
