Israel strikes southern Lebanon after Hezbollah drone attack

Jerusalem: Israel struck southern Lebanon on Wednesday after Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at Israeli troops, in the latest test of the June ceasefire.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported Israeli shelling and airstrikes on Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Arab Salim and the Ali al-Taher Ridge, as well as machine-gun fire towards Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

The Israeli military said in a statement that Hezbollah launched the drones overnight towards its troops in the Ali al-Taher Ridge. The Israeli army shot down one drone with no casualties immediately reported, the statement said, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israeli military said it had targetted Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatieh area and sites it said were used to plan and direct attacks against Israeli troops.

Israeli attacks have killed 4,353 people in Lebanon in the latest round of fighting that began in March, according to a report issued by the Lebanese Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday.

A US-brokered ceasefire in June reduced fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, but Israeli strikes in Lebanon have continued. Israeli troops also remain in the territory seized during the latest war.

Israeli military operations continue across southern Lebanon with airstrikes, ground incursions, artillery bombardments, and demolition work, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

On Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck an area between Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Mayfadoun at around 7 pm, and later another area between Zawtar and Arnoun, while Israeli forces carried out large explosions in Arnoun al-Shaqif and on the outskirts of Yahmar al-Shaqif, NNA said.

It added that Israeli forces conducted a machine-gun sweep from Haddatha toward the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal, while a drone hit the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

In response to the escalating situation, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed Sunday that residents displaced from southern Lebanon would return “safely and with dignity.”

Salam said in a statement that the south should not remain an open arena for wars and conflicts decided outside Lebanon, and the state must have sole authority over decisions of war and peace in Lebanon.

IANS