BEIRUT (AP) — At least seven people died and several others sustained injuries in Israeli military strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, marking continued violence despite an active ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, according to officials.
The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders on Saturday for residents in nine villages throughout southern Lebanon. Both Israel and Hezbollah have continued launching attacks even with the ceasefire that took effect on April 17.
According to Lebanon’s state-operated National News Agency, a vehicle was targeted in Kfar Dajal village, resulting in two deaths, while a residential building strike in Lwaizeh village claimed three lives. An additional two people were killed when the village of Shoukin came under attack.
Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Lt. Col. Ella Waweya announced on X that Israeli air forces conducted approximately 50 strikes within a 24-hour period, focusing on Hezbollah facilities and personnel.
The militant group Hezbollah reported launching a drone attack on Saturday against Israeli forces who had assembled inside a residence in the coastal community of Bayed.
In recent weeks, Israeli forces have been systematically demolishing residential areas in communities along the Lebanese-Israeli border. Military officials justify these actions by stating they are eliminating structures that served as operational bases for the Iranian-supported organization.
Israeli military forces distributed new footage on Friday purportedly showing the destruction of Hezbollah positions throughout southern Lebanon. The video depicts soldiers displaying an Israeli flag while walking through the ruins of a soccer facility in the Lebanese community of Bint Jbeil. Military officials stated on their website that air forces “destroyed the town’s stadium after it was discovered to be booby-trapped.”
The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah commenced on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks toward northern Israel, occurring two days following the start of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, Hezbollah’s primary supporter. Israel has subsequently conducted hundreds of aerial bombardments and initiated ground operations in southern Lebanon, taking control of numerous border communities.
Following these events, Lebanon and Israel engaged in their first direct negotiations in over thirty years. The two nations have remained officially at war since Israel’s establishment in 1948. A ten-day cessation of hostilities announced in Washington became effective on April 17, with the agreement subsequently extended for an additional three weeks.
