Israeli strikes kill one in south Lebanon as evacuation orders widen
Lebanon’s state news agency said one person was killed in Maarakeh, while Israel ordered residents of 20 towns and villages to move north.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Israeli air attacks in southern Lebanon killed one person, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported, as fighting continued during a United States-brokered ceasefire effort. The strikes add pressure to talks aimed at reducing hostilities in Lebanon and come alongside separate US-Iran negotiations whose draft terms, according to Iranian media, would end war “on all fronts, including Lebanon.”
The National News Agency said the person was killed in an Israeli raid on Maarakeh, a municipality in the Tyre district. Al Jazeera’s Heidi Pett, reporting from Beirut, said Israeli attacks continued through Friday and into the evening on towns and villages north of what Israel calls the “Yellow Line,” an area of southern Lebanon it has sought to control and occupy.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry has said Israeli attacks across the country have killed more than 3,700 people and injured more than 11,400 since renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, according to an EPA photo caption citing the ministry.
Orders to leave 20 communities
The National News Agency reported that Israeli dawn attacks demolished homes and government buildings in Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military also ordered residents of 20 Lebanese towns and villages to leave immediately and move north of the Zahrani River.
The evacuation orders covered Deir al-Zahrani, al-Namirieh, al-Sharquieh, al-Dewayr, Harouf, Habboush, Kfarjoz, Zibdine in Nabatieh, Nabatieh al-Tahta, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kfar Rouman, Al-Mahmoudieh, Sajed in Jezzine, Reihan, Aaramta, Kfarchouba, Mlki, Al-Lawiza in Jezzine, Jarjouh and Arab Salim.
On Saturday, the Israeli military said an air raid alert had sounded in Metula, a town in northern Israel, because of what it described as the infiltration of a hostile aircraft from Lebanon. The military statement did not name Hezbollah, according to Al Jazeera.
Ceasefire and wider talks
The latest attacks followed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement on Friday that the United States and Iran had agreed on the wording of an agreement intended to end their war in the Middle East. Sharif said mediators were working with both sides to finalise the deal.
Iranian media reported that the initial agreement would declare an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. Al Jazeera reported that Israel is not a party to the US-Iran talks and that Israeli leaders have said they do not plan to withdraw from Lebanon, raising concern that continued Israeli operations there could disrupt a broader agreement.
Israel and Lebanon agreed earlier this month to a conditional ceasefire that would require a complete halt to fire by Hezbollah, Al Jazeera reported. Fighting has continued, and the next round of talks between the two countries is expected on June 22, with the aim of reaching a wider agreement.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.