At least four dead in Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon

At least four people died this Sunday in Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon, despite the precarious truce that has been in force since March, the Ministry of Health in Beirut reported. According to the Israeli army, the attacks were in response to drones sent hours earlier by the pro-Iran militia Hezbollah against its soldiers.

Two men died on the edge of the area occupied by Israeli troops and two women, in the town of Arab Salim, where the Israeli army issued an evacuation order early in the morning for the areas surrounding a building it was going to bomb, arguing that it was used by Hezbollah. In addition, there were at least six people injured in these attacks, Reuters reports, citing Lebanese ministry sources.

“Hezbollah terrorists launched two drones against soldiers operating in the security zone of southern Lebanon,” the Israeli army said in a message on its social networks, explaining that the military shot down one of the drones. “In response, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is carrying out attacks in southern Lebanon,” the message adds.

The army reiterated that its forces will continue operating in the Lebanese area “to eliminate any threat against Israeli civilians and soldiers,” EFE reports.

The Lebanese militia has not commented on the matter at the moment. Attacks in this region continue to occur despite the truce reached in April and the agreement sponsored by the United States in June. The pact seeks the disarmament of Hezbollah and the complete Israeli withdrawal through progress by both parties in parallel in “pilot zones”, which the Lebanese army must clear of weapons and militiamen.

According to figures from the Lebanese Ministry of Health published last Friday, Israeli attacks have left 4,353 people dead and more than 12,000 injured since March 2.

Furthermore, and according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 300,000 people remain forcibly displaced, since Israel continues to occupy 620 square kilometers (6% of Lebanon) in the border area.