Beirut: Fresh Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed nine people, including three Lebanese Army personnel, on Saturday, according to Lebanese military officials and state media. The attacks occurred only days after Israel and Lebanon reached a new ceasefire arrangement aimed at reducing hostilities along the border.
The Lebanese Army said an airstrike targeted a road connecting Nabatiyeh and Marjayoun in the morning, killing a brigadier general, a captain and another soldier. The identities of the victims were not immediately disclosed.
In a separate strike, six civilians were killed and four others injured in the village of Saksakiyah, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.
Condemning the attacks, the Lebanese Army stated that repeated Israeli strikes against Lebanon, its people and its armed forces would not weaken the country’s determination. The military accused Israel of undermining efforts aimed at restoring stability, securing a lasting ceasefire and ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
The Israeli military did not immediately issue a statement regarding the attack that killed the Lebanese soldiers.
The latest ceasefire emerged from US-mediated negotiations between Israel and the Lebanese government. Beirut has blamed Hezbollah for drawing the country into the conflict and has sought to curb the group’s military activities. Hezbollah, however, has rejected the ceasefire arrangement.
The renewed violence came a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticised Iran for opposing the ceasefire deal. Both leaders argued that Lebanon should not become a tool in broader regional negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded sharply on social media, suggesting that Israel, not Iran, was responsible for Lebanon’s suffering. He accused Israel of occupying Lebanese territory, displacing civilians and carrying out daily attacks.
The conflict intensified on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, shortly after Israel and the United States began military operations against Iran. Since then, Israel has expanded its campaign into Lebanon, including a ground offensive and widespread airstrikes that have displaced more than one million people.
Israeli forces currently control portions of southern Lebanon, extending deeper into the country than at any point since the end of Israel’s occupation in 2000.
According to available figures, more than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the conflict began. On the Israeli side, at least 29 soldiers and three civilians have lost their lives.
