Lebanon says 9 killed in Israeli strikes on southern villages

Smoke rises during Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon’s plain of Marjayoun, days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect, on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Agence France-Presse)

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

Both Israel and Hezbollah faced accusations Monday 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 in a statement it “struck Hezbollah terrorists, dozens of launchers, and terrorist infrastructure throughout Lebanon.”

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

Lebanon’s health ministry said the strikes killed five people and wounded two in the village of Haris “in an initial toll,” while in the village of Tallous, another four people were killed and one wounded.

Earlier, Hezbollah said it had launched an attack targeting an Israeli position in “the occupied hills of Kfar Shouba,” 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.

After that attack, 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.

READ: After days of Israeli strikes, Hezbollah fires into Israel-held area

Israeli Defense 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 20 kilometers (12 miles) 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 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 Shiite Muslim movement a series of stunning blows.

READ: Israel hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon days into fragile truce

Also Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in a call of “the need for all sides to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon,” the foreign ministry said.

Saar rejected accusations that Israel had violated the truce, claiming instead that his country’s strikes were “enforcing” the ceasefire.

“We hear claims that Israel is violating the ceasefire understandings in Lebanon. On the contrary! Israel is enforcing them in response to Hezbollah’s violations, which demand immediate action,” he said in a statement.

He also said Hezbollah had attempted to move weapons in southern Lebanon and their presence “south of the Litani river is the most basic violation of the understandings.”

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

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