NABATIEH, Lebanon: Israeli forces launched heavy strikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday despite an ongoing ceasefire, a day after Israel carried out its first attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs since the truce aimed at ending weeks of fighting with Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said the strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs killed “the Commander of Hezbollah’s ‘Radwan Force’ Unit”, referring to an elite formation within the group.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on April 17, but violence has continued across southern Lebanon.
Wednesday’s strike near the Lebanese capital triggered alarm across the country. Hezbollah has not responded militarily to the attack so far.
Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes on several towns and villages in southern Lebanon, while the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation warnings for three villages north of the Litani River, outside the zone occupied by Israeli troops following their ground offensive in border areas.
Heaviest strikes
Some of the heaviest strikes targeted the southern city of Nabatieh, where a shopping centre and residential buildings were hit, according to state media.
In the nearby village of Toul, two emergency workers affiliated with Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Committee were wounded while responding to an earlier strike, spokesperson Mahmoud Karaki told the media.
He said their ambulance was severely damaged in the attack.
The Israeli military also stated that four soldiers, including one seriously wounded, were injured by an “explosive drone impact” in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed more than 2,700 people in Lebanon, while the Israeli military says 17 soldiers and one contractor have died during operations in the south.
