Lebanon Reports 18 Dead as a Result of Israeli Strikes — Reuters
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 18 people were killed and another 33 civilians were wounded as a result of a series of powerful Israeli airstrikes on the southern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces officially confirmed the deaths of four of its soldiers during a firefight on Lebanese territory.
A major escalation of the conflict occurred last night, threatening to derail the conclusion of a strategic international peace agreement in the Middle East.
Fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah group in southern Lebanon has intensified sharply after a brief lull.
Officials in Paris have already called on Washington to urgently exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to immediately cease hostilities in Lebanon.
This latest outbreak of violence significantly hinders the achievement of an interim agreement between the United States and Iran on a comprehensive settlement and an end to the war.
This important document requires the United States, Iran, and their immediate allies to announce an immediate and definitive cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanese territory.
Lebanon’s medical and emergency services are operating in emergency mode under the threat of further shelling.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health stated that since midnight, 18 people have been killed as a result of heavy airstrikes in 11 cities across the country, with another 33 injured, and that the bombings are hindering rescue and evacuation operations.
The small village of Harouf, located northeast of the port city of Tyre, suffered the most damage.
According to preliminary data from the ministry, seven people were killed there, and many local residents are still trapped under the rubble of buildings, so the death toll may rise.
Israel justifies its actions as necessary to protect its sovereignty and as a response to regular provocations by Islamists.
Israel stated that it carried out strikes against “Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure” in several areas in southern Lebanon, and that this was done in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah.
According to the Israeli General Staff, the air force attacked exclusively military targets, weapons depots, and camouflaged militant launchers.
For their part, representatives of the Lebanese radical movement reported the successful conduct of a large-scale counteroffensive operation.
Hezbollah stated that it had ambushed Israeli forces, destroyed three Merkava tanks with guided missiles, and fired rockets and artillery at the military.
Subsequently, the radical group issued an additional statement to the press. Later, Hezbollah stated that it had attacked Israeli forces attempting to enter the area to evacuate the wounded.
This was reported by Reuters.
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