Israel returned to bombing southern Lebanon this Saturday (30), and his army continues advancing deep into Lebanese territorydespite a ceasefire theoretically in force and talks held in Washington.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam denounced “Israel’s dangerous and unprecedented escalationwhich he accused of applying “a policy of scorched earth and collective punishment.”
However, he defended the decision of the authorities to start negotiations with Israel — which the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah opposes — stating that it is the “least costly path” for the country.
In the last days, Israel intensified its operations air and land in Lebanon, where he states that its target is the Shiite group Hezbollahan ally of Iran.
The Israeli army ordered this Saturday morning to evacuation of a dozen villages in the south before launching an attacks, despite a ceasefire theoretically being in force since April 17th, which has not been respected.
The Lebanese army reported that a Israeli drone attack “targeted” hit a military vehicle near the city of Nabatiyeh (south) and seriously injured two of its soldiers.
Also recorded were artillery shots near the medieval fortress of Beaufort, after the Minister of Culture warned the day before about the “serious danger” what the Israeli offensives represent for historical heritage.
Attack on Israel
Hezbollah said it launched this Saturday multiple attacks against northern Israel and who also faced Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.
The pro-Iranian group said in a statement that it was fighting Israeli forces in the vicinity of the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Yohmor al-Shaqif and Dibbine. He added that the troops “had not yet managed to take control” of these areas.
The Israeli army informed AFP that more than 25 projectiles were launched from Lebanon towards Israel this Saturday. Air warning sirens sounded in the northern cities of Karmiel and Safed for the first time since the ceasefireaccording to the army.
The Israeli bombings on Friday (29) against around thirty locations left 11 dead in the Tire region, including one rescuer, and eight injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Ceasefire
Israel declared this week that it considers much of southern Lebanon to be a “combat zone“, and Netanyahu stated on Friday that his army had “crossed the Litani”a river located about 30 km from the border.
In this scenario of incessant hostilities, Lebanon and Israel began negotiations in Aprilunder the auspices of the United States, to reach a security agreement. Hezbollah, whose disarmament Israel demands from the Lebanese governmentis directly opposed to any pact.
In Washington, Israeli and Lebanese military authorities held a meeting on Friday classified as “constructive” by the Pentagon.
These contacts have as a broader context the talks between the United States and Iranin which they seek to include the Lebanese front in an agreement that puts an end to the war in the Middle East.
According to number two at the Pentagon, Elbridge Colbythe discussions will serve as “a basis for the political part”, in reference to the negotiations scheduled for the following days June 2nd and 3rd em Washington.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, that a ceasefire is “an essential first step” for any progress in negotiations.
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in the neighborhoods of Tyre’s old city, a small area that fell outside Israeli evacuation orders. Many sleep in their cars or in tents, according to AFP correspondents.
“We put mattresses on the floor to sleep,” says Karam Amin, who sleeps with his family of seven in his clothing store in the Christian neighborhood. Since the beginning of the war, the Bombings caused 3,371 deaths and displaced more than a million people in Lebanonaccording to authorities.
Just in the last week, 15 children died and 62 were injuredaccording to Unicef.
