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The National News Agency reported that Israeli forces attacked towns across southern Lebanon with artillery and air strikes on October 4. State media listed several locations hit but gave no immediate details on casualties or damage. The strikes come as Israeli troops continue operations in the region more than three months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
Lebanon’s health ministry has recorded more than 4300 deaths since March according to its figures with many resulting from similar cross-border actions. A separate strike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa in late September wounded four people including a Lebanese soldier the Lebanese army said. The army described the soldier’s condition as serious following the drone attack on a military vehicle.
The Israeli military stated that its forces were striking Hezbollah terror targets and weapons storage facilities located in civilian areas. A military statement described the actions as a response to threats and accused Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields. The military said in a statement this is yet another example of Hezbollah’s cynical use of Lebanese civilians as human shields and continued operations from within civilian areas.
Under the four-point framework agreed in June Israel is to withdraw from the South Litani area with the Lebanese army taking control while Israeli forces remain in an expanded security zone up to 10 kilometres inside Lebanon Reuters reported. Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered troops to prepare for an extended stay in the zone during a visit to the area. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem condemned the arrangement as a grave blunder that could lead to annexation and vowed continued resistance according to BBC reports.
Israeli ground forces have conducted demolitions in villages within the Yellow Line using bulldozers and controlled explosions Al-Monitor reported in September. Residents in areas like West Zawtar describe daily drone surveillance and blasts from destroyed homes a Reuters dispatch from October 8 detailed. The situation has stalled talks on further pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal.
The Lebanese army deployed to some southern areas in July following initial Israeli pullbacks but no additional zones have been agreed since Al Majalla noted in its reporting. Hezbollah continues to reject disarmament terms in the framework. International mediators continue efforts to reduce violations that have marked the fragile ceasefire.
