WORLD
Israeli strikes kill 13
The army said it ‘will continue to operate to remove threats while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement.’
KFAR RUMMAN (AFP) — Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon killed 13 people, including women and children, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Monday, marking an escalation in violence after weeks of relative calm.
An overnight strike on a building in Kfar Rumman killed 11 people, including two children and four women. Another strike in the town killed an 18-year-old rescuer and wounded another.
A later strike on Rihan killed one person, while an attack on Nabatieh wounded nine, including two children and three women.
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah “infrastructure sites” across southern Lebanon following the launch of two explosive drones toward its troops. It also targeted “several terrorists,” it said were transferring weapons.
The army said it “will continue to operate to remove threats while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused Hezbollah of “repeated drone attacks” and “attempting to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon.”
Hezbollah has not commented on the latest escalation and has not claimed an attack since 20 June.
Fighting had eased following a June Israel-Lebanon ceasefire framework, but Israeli strikes have intensified in recent days. Strikes killed seven people Sunday and four Friday.
Lebanon says Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion have killed more than 4,300 people since March.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday urged Washington and the international community to help stop the Israeli attacks.