Despite cease-fire, Israeli strikes in south Lebanon kill several people
Hezbollah claims attack on military vehicle in Qantara.
by L'Orient Today staff · L'Orient TodaySOUTH LEBANON — Despite the current cease-fire, the Israeli army continued its deadly attacks on south Lebanon on Saturday, where it has established a "buffer zone."
According to our correspondent, Israeli forces carried out two drone strikes in Yohmor al-Chaqif (Nabatieh). The first targeted a car, and the second targeted a motorcycle. These attacks killed four people, according to the health ministry.
Yohmor is to date the only locality north of the Litani included in the buffer zone and has not been seized by the Israeli army.
Artillery fire also struck Qantara (Marjayoun). The Israeli army also bombed an area in Majdel Selm (Marjayoun). Meanwhile, an Israeli air force strike on Safad al-Battikh (Bint Jbeil) hit a house, killing two people and injuring 17, according to the health ministry. The Israeli army also demolished homes in Yaroun (Bint Jbeil), Houla, Qantara and Taybeh (Marjayoun).
'15 Hezbollah fighters' killed
The Israeli army also announced it had "eliminated more than 15 Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon over the weekend." "The forces of the 36th division targeted and eliminated three Hezbollah militants who were traveling in a vehicle loaded with military equipment.
Another militant was also eliminated while riding a motorcycle south of the advanced defensive line," wrote the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson on X. "Earlier in the day, Golani Brigade forces spotted two Hezbollah fighters in the Litani region. They were killed in an airstrike," she added. Hezbollah, for its part, claimed responsibility for an attack on a military vehicle in Qantara.
The Israeli army on Saturday reiterated its call not to enter the villages of the "buffer zone" it seeks to establish at a depth of 8 to 10 kilometers inside south Lebanon. This zone covers an area of 602 square kilometers, or 5.8 percent of Lebanese territory, and includes 62 villages in south Lebanon, according to calculations by L’Orient-Le Jour. Based on our field analysis, the Israeli army occupied 47 of them as of April 21.
During the night from Friday to Saturday, the Israeli army also blew up several homes in the two main villages of the border zone, Bint Jbeil and Khiam (Marjayoun), as well as in Taybeh (Marjayoun). Sweeping bursts of automatic weapons fire were carried out on the outskirts of Qantara, and in the vicinity of Taybeh and Khiam.
In the Bekaa, a resident of Sohmor who was injured just before the truce died from her injuries, our correspondent Sarah Abdallah reports.
According to the Health Ministry, 2,496 people have been killed and 7,725 injured in Lebanon since March 2.
Reporting contributed by our regional correspondent, Mountasser Abdallah.
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