Israeli strikes have killed at least 36 people since the truce began, according to an AFP tally of the ministry’s figures.
Israel’s military said today that one of its soldiers was killed “during combat” in southern Lebanon, and six were wounded, four of them severely.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Israeli strikes in multiple locations in the south, both in areas where Israel issued an evacuation warning and elsewhere.
AFP correspondents reported heavy traffic heading north as people fled following the warning and intensified raids.
Netanyahu blamed Hezbollah for the violence, telling his weekly Cabinet meeting that “Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire”.
Tehran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 by firing rockets at Israel to avenge the death of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in United States-Israeli strikes.
Under the truce, which came after a landmark meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials that angered Hezbollah, Israel reserves the right to respond to “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”.
Hezbollah said that Israel’s “continued ceasefire violations … and above all its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and violations of its sovereignty will be met with a response”.
It said its fighters targeted Israeli troops and positions in south Lebanon in response to ceasefire violations and attacks on Lebanese villages.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 2500 people and wounded over 7700 others since the war erupted.
– AFP
