Israeli Strike in Southern Lebanon Kills Five, Including Children
BEIRUT – An Israeli strike near the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon has killed five people, including three children, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The strike reportedly targeted a motorcycle.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack, saying it had “eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist” in the area. Israel frequently carries out strikes inside Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement signed in November to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, currently in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, condemned the attack as a “massacre.” In a statement on X, the presidency quoted him as saying, “As we are in New York to discuss matters of peace and human rights, Israel continues its ongoing violations of international resolutions.” He accused Israel of committing a “new massacre in Bint Jbeil,” and urged the international community to press Israel to respect the ceasefire and withdraw from Lebanese territory.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also denounced the strike, calling it a “deliberate crime against civilians.” He appealed to countries guaranteeing the ceasefire, including the United States and France, to pressure Israel into halting its military actions, withdrawing from occupied areas, and releasing Lebanese detainees.
The ceasefire agreement, overseen by a committee that includes the U.S., France, Lebanon, and Israel, has come under strain in recent days. Israel has stepped up its operations, striking what it says are Hezbollah arms depots in several parts of southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese army reported that Israeli actions have now reached 4,500 ceasefire violations, warning that such escalation could jeopardize ongoing efforts to disarm Hezbollah within the border region. Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said the military aims to complete the disarmament of the Iran-backed group within three months, under heavy U.S. pressure to prevent further escalation.
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