18 killed in southern Lebanon as cross-border fighting with Israel continues

Beirut: At least 18 people were killed, and several others were injured in southern Lebanon as the cross-border fighting with Israel continues, according to civil defence and health authorities.

The deadliest attack occurred in Tyre District’s town of Tayr Debba, killing nine people and injuring seven others, according to a preliminary toll, reports Xinhua, quoting Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Hezbollah said on Wednesday (Local time) that it targeted gatherings of Israeli troops and vehicles in southern Lebanon’s Qantara and Bayada.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Wednesday it struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites and killed Hezbollah militants in Tyre and other areas in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours. It also confirmed that Hezbollah launched a drone toward Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon during the day, which it said was intercepted.

Separately, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that he will pursue negotiations “until the end,” and that diplomacy offers the best path to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, according to a presidency statement.

“Wars achieve no results other than losses shared by everyone,” he said, calling for an end to Israeli attacks and withdrawal of Israeli forces, among others, and saying no to foreign interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.

Also on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message addressed to the Lebanese people, asking them to join Israel against Hezbollah.

He claimed that Israel has killed nearly 10,000 Hezbollah militants, adding, “no matter where they are, we’ll find them.”

The developments came after a brief Israel-Iran flare-up triggered by Israeli airstrikes on Beirut on Sunday. Despite a ceasefire reached by Israel and Lebanon in mid-April, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah positions and weapons, while Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israeli military positions.

Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre said on Wednesday that Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 3,696 people in Lebanon and injured 11,413 others.

IANS