Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said Israeli strikes on the country on Sunday killed 14 people, including two children and two women, and injured 37 others.
The attacks came despite a precarious ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect on April 16 and was extended by three weeks on Thursday.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson had earlier issued evacuation warnings for several villages in southern Lebanon, saying residents “must evacuate” immediately and that staying would be “endangering their life”.
The IDF later said it had carried out artillery and aerial strikes targeting Hezbollah operatives and sites in southern Lebanon that it said were used “to advance attacks against IDF soldiers”.
The Israeli military also said a 19-year-old soldier had been killed and six others injured by a Hezbollah drone attack in Lebanon.
Separately, Hezbollah launched three drones towards Israel, according to the IDF, which said they were intercepted by the Israeli air force before crossing the border.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel retains the “right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks”.
Speaking at a government meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF was “active, and it is acting with force” in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of “disintegrating the ceasefire”.
“We are acting vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and incidentally, with Lebanon as well,” he said.
“This means freedom of action, not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but to thwart immediate threats and also to neutralise emerging threats.”
Sunday’s attacks followed the IDF’s statement that it had struck Hezbollah “military structures” overnight. It accused the Iran-backed group of launching two explosive unmanned aerial vehicles towards Israel.
Both Israel and Hezbollah have reported attacks by the other side since the ceasefire came into force, with each accusing the other of violating the agreement.
On Saturday, Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets” in Lebanon.
At least six people were killed in strikes on southern Lebanon the same day.
Source: BBC
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