Nine die in Israeli ‘retaliation’ attack

Nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on villages in southern Lebanon on Monday amid a fragile ceasefire.

A staff member of a Lebanese non-governmental organisation salvages items at its branch that was damaged in an Israeli strike on a nearby building in Beirut on Monday. Picture: AFP

Nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on villages in southern Lebanon on Monday, after Israel said it was taking aim at dozens of Hezbollah targets in retaliation for an attack claimed by the militant group amid a fragile ceasefire.

Israel and Hezbollah faced accusations of breaching the truce, which took effect on Wednesday to end a war that has killed thousands of people in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements on both sides of the border.

The Israeli military said it “struck Hezbollah terrorists, dozens of launchers, and terrorist infrastructure throughout Lebanon”.

“Israel demands that the relevant parties in Lebanon fulfil their responsibilities and prevent Hezbollah’s hostile activity,” the statement said.

Earlier, Hezbollah said it had launched an attack targeting an Israeli position in a disputed part of the border area between Israel and Lebanon.

Israel’s military said Hezbollah had launched two projectiles towards one of its posts in the area of Har Dov, Israel’s term for the disputed Shebaa Farms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of a “serious violation” and vowed to “respond forcefully”.

“We are determined to uphold the ceasefire and respond to any violation by Hezbollah, no matter how minor or serious,” he said.

Cars drive past buildings that were damaged or destroyed in Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday. Picture: AFP

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also vowed a “harsh response”. Shortly afterwards, the Israeli military said it was striking targets in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported strikes on areas of south Lebanon, where Hezbollah has long held sway, that are located around 20km from the border with Israel.

Israel has carried out a near-daily series of strikes in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire was put in place, and earlier on Monday Beirut’s powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri accused it of violating the truce.

“The aggressive actions carried out by Israeli occupation forces... represent a flagrant violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” said Mr Berri, who helped mediate the truce on behalf of ally Hezbollah.

The fighting escalated after Israel moved its focus from Gaza to Lebanon in September to secure its northern border from Hezbollah attacks, dealing the Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim movement a series of stunning blows.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah must withdraw its fighters from areas south of the Litani river, and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south.

As part of the agreement, the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers will deploy in southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws over a period of 60 days.

A committee involving France, UN peacekeepers, Israel, Lebanon and chaired by the US is tasked with maintaining communication between the various parties and ensuring violations are identified and dealt with to avoid any escalation.

AFP