Four killed in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon

Four people have been killed in a series of attacks in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh district, according to state media reports. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s emergency operations centre stated that two Israeli raids on a truck and a motorcycle resulted in fatalities.

The incidents occurred north of the Litani River, below which Israel has declared it is operating unilaterally. In addition, Israeli soldiers reportedly blew up buildings in the city of Bint Jbeil on Saturday morning. Separate reports from Al Jazeera correspondents indicate that bombings have taken place in the city of Khiam, including residential blocks.

The attacks are part of a continued pattern of Israeli military activity, despite a three-week extension of a ceasefire with Hezbollah. The Israeli military has claimed to have eliminated six Hezbollah fighters in an exchange of fire near Bint Jbeil. Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad stated that the ceasefire is “meaningless” due to Israel’s insistence on hostile acts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel maintains full freedom of action against any threat, claiming Hezbollah is attempting to sabotage the pause. A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute previously suggested that Jewish Israeli respondents supported continuing the conflict, even if it led to friction with the US.

Lebanese civilians are facing the consequences of these attacks. Huda Kamal Mansour, a resident of Aitaroun village in southern Lebanon, has been living in an empty stadium in Beirut along with other displaced families for 45 days due to Israeli bombardment. She described her experience as “zero distance between us and the Israeli army” when they attacked her neighborhood.

The Lebanese leadership has rejected the possibility of being used as a bargaining chip in potential US-Israel negotiations with Iran.

Source: Al Jazeera