Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 18 in Southern Lebanon

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Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that at least 2,020 people have been killed and 6,436 others wounded since March 2 in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon. On Saturday, Israeli strikes on a village near Sidon resulted in the deaths of at least eight people and injured nine others, according to the ministry.

Earlier, the Health Ministry reported that at least 10 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in the Nabatieh district, including three emergency workers. The ministry’s latest tally includes these fatalities, as well as the overall death toll from the conflict.

Hezbollah launched rocket fire at Israel on March 2, prompting a response from Israel and a ground invasion. On Saturday, two Israeli soldiers were wounded during clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli media reports.

Meanwhile, officials from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States are scheduled to meet next week in Washington to discuss a potential ceasefire and negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices. Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday near the government headquarters in central Beirut to support Hezbollah and protest against the talks with Israel.

Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, issued a statement urging supporters to avoid demonstrations at this time, citing concerns for stability and avoiding division. Earlier, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah criticized the decision to hold direct talks with Israel as a “blatant violation of Lebanese laws.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that any peace agreement reached with Lebanon must be lasting and include disarmament of Hezbollah. The US and Iran have been at odds over whether a ceasefire announced between the two countries applies to Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

In Islamabad, historic in-person ceasefire talks between the US and Iran resulted in an agreement from the US that Israel would decrease its attacks on Lebanon. However, no such announcement has been made by Israel regarding a ceasefire.

Source: Al Jazeera