One wounded as Israeli raids and shelling hit southern Lebanon
Lebanon's state news agency reported attacks across the south after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel earlier this month.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
An Israeli strike wounded one person in southern Lebanon's Tyre district, Lebanon's National News Agency reported, as Israeli air raids, drones and artillery fire hit several areas of the country. The attacks underscore the fragility of a US-brokered ceasefire that Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement earlier this month, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
The NNA said the person was injured in al-Bayyad, a village in the Tyre district, after an Israeli air raid struck the main street near the Ali Kamal Suleiman Volunteer Centre, which is linked to the al-Risala Health Ambulance Association. The wounded person was taken to a hospital for treatment, the agency reported.
Lebanon's state news agency also reported an Israeli drone strike on Jebchit in the Nabatieh district and warplane attacks on the Arid Dbeibin area in the Marjayoun district. It said an Israeli army explosion hit the Khiam plain in Marjayoun, and artillery fire struck the outskirts of Buyout al-Sayyad in Tyre district.
In another round of attacks, Israeli warplanes struck Qalaouiyah, the NNA reported. Drones flew at low altitude over Baysariyeh in the Sidon district and nearby areas, according to the agency.
Ceasefire under strain
Israel and Lebanon agreed earlier this month to implement a ceasefire after US-led talks in Washington, Al Jazeera reported. The arrangement was described as conditional on Hezbollah fully stopping fire, according to that report.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Friday that any peace agreement between the United States and Iran would also cover Lebanon, regardless of whether Lebanon's government accepts it, Al Jazeera reported. He spoke at a Beirut ceremony commemorating fighters from the group who were killed.
Fadlallah criticized direct talks between Lebanon's government and Israel, saying they had not eased conditions in southern Lebanon because Israeli attacks were continuing. He said Hezbollah did not oppose diplomacy based on strength through indirect negotiations, and argued that Lebanon's government was discussing matters with Israel that it could not deliver.
Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health says Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,711 people and wounded 11,483 since the conflict escalated on March 2, Al Jazeera reported. The ministry said the dead include at least 247 children and 132 health workers.
Questions over wider talks
Iran's Mehr news agency reported Friday that a draft deal between Iran and the US would set out a framework for ending the war on several fronts, including Lebanon. Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, said it was still unclear whether Lebanon would be part of any US-Iran arrangement.
Khodr said Lebanon's government insists it is not included in negotiations between Washington and Tehran. She cited President Joseph Aoun's position that Iran does not speak for Lebanon, describing the dispute as part of a broader sovereignty struggle.
Khodr also reported that Lebanese army commanders were due to hold political and security discussions with Israel in Washington on June 22. She said Lebanon is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from the south.
Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported that Israel would demand Lebanese action against Hezbollah outside the so-called security zone before discussing any possible withdrawal. Al Jazeera's Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, said Iranian media had described a 14-point draft, but Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed those reports as media speculation.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.