TEL AVIV - Seven people were killed and 40 others wounded Saturday night in new Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese health officials. An anonymous Lebanese security source said Israel has carried out 15 airstrikes so far on Saturday night. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the Israeli air force launched a second wave of strikes against Hezbollah command centres, infrastructure facilities, militants, rocket launchers and weapons depots in Lebanese territory.
It said it would "continue to carry out strikes as necessary to protect Israeli civilians".
Shortly before, a statement from the Israeli defense minister's office said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had instructed the IDF to launch a second wave of strikes against dozens of "Hezbollah targets" in Lebanon in response to rockets fired into northern Israel on Saturday morning.
"The Lebanese government is responsible for everything that happens on its territory," the statement said. "Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens and sovereignty and will act in every way to ensure the security of Israeli citizens and northern communities."
The Israeli army announced earlier on Saturday that it had intercepted rockets fired from Lebanon at the northern Israeli town of Metula. No casualties were reported in Israel, according to Israeli emergency services.
The first wave of Israeli attacks came on Saturday afternoon, hitting areas near the villages of Touline, Kfar Melki, Mleeta and the Wadi al-Hujeir valley in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese state news agency (NNA) said, adding that a residential building was destroyed in Touline, killing one person and wounding three.
In a statement issued after the strikes, the Israeli army said it had hit Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon.
As part of diplomatic efforts to contain the ongoing escalation, Lebanese Foreign Minister Yousuf Raji held talks with several regional foreign ministers and officials, according to NNA.
Rajai called for pressure on Israel to halt its offensive, de-escalate the situation and manage the growing crisis along its southern border.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed concern about the violence.
"We strongly urge all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardise the fragile stability," UNIFIL spokeswoman Andrea Tenenti said, warning that further escalation could have "serious consequences". UNIFIL said peacekeepers were continuing patrols to de-escalate tensions.
The exchange came amid ongoing friction over a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brokered by the United States and France that came into effect on November 27, 2024, ending more than a year of hostilities linked to the Gaza conflict.
The ceasefire stipulated Israel's withdrawal from disputed Lebanese territory, but according to Lebanese officials, Israeli forces continue to occupy five border posts after the 18 February deadline.
CMG/CGTN/Xinhua / gnews.cz-jav
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