Israel pummels southern Lebanon with strikes, as death toll rises and Hezbollah claims right to retaliate, despite cease-fire
Israel targeted district of Nabatieh with particular intensity as the death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon surpassed 2,500, according to the Health Ministry.
by L'Orient Today staff · L'Orient TodaySOUTH LEBANON — Israel and Hezbollah witnessed a fierce escalation of hostilities Sunday. On the ground, Israeli strikes rained down across southern Lebanon, both south and north of the Litani River. In rhetoric, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hezbollah exchanged statements, with both parties accusing the other of undermining the U.S.-brokered agreement of a temporary truce.
The main target of these strikes, though not exclusively, was the eastern part of Nabatieh district along the northern bend of the Litani River, where the Israeli army is seeking to establish part of its "buffer zone" that will extend to the north of the river in this region, creating a Gaza-style occupation.
The Israeli army issued a forced evacuation threat at around 1 p.m. for seven villages in the Nabatieh district, located north of the Litani River.
In a message on X, Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee called on the residents of Mayfadoun, Shoukin, Yohmor al-Shaqif, Arnoun (site of the Beaufort Castle), Zawtar Gharbieh, Zawtar Sharkieh, and Kfar Tibnit to move one kilometer away from the borders of these villages, before strikes. He justified these threats by "violations of the cease-fire agreement by Hezbollah."
Several of these villages have been already attacked by Israel following the cease-fire. Among these villages, Yohmor al-Shaqif falls within the "buffer zone."
Shortly after the threats were issued, Israel proceeded to conduct a heavy bombardments campaign. In Kfar Tibnit, a café located at the village roundabout was hit. In Zawtar Sharkieh, an Israeli strike destroyed two places of worship — a Husseiniya and a mosque. These strikes, as well as an air strike on Nabatieh al-Fawqa, which was not included in the evacuation threat issued by the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, killed at least five people, according to initial information obtained on the ground by our correspondent in the region.
Even before the forced evacuation, the Israeli army had carried out a series of bombings in the area, including a drone strike in Zawtar Sharkieh that killed one person and wounded another.
Traffic jams all the way to Saida
The forced evacuation in this region drove hundreds of people to leave, causing massive traffic congestion all the way to Saida.
Other areas of southern Lebanon also experienced sustained shelling throughout the day, notably in Burj Qalaway — where three rescue workers from the Islamic Mission Scouts Association (Rissala, affiliated with Amal) were slightly injured — as well as Safad al-Battikh and Froun, while a drone strike hit Deir Antar. A strike also hit Touline (Marjayoun), which falls outside of Israel's "buffer zone," the part of Lebanese territory it occupies.
According to the Health Ministry, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 2,509 people and wounded 7,755 since March 2.
There were also house demolitions along the border strip, such as in Yaroun, Aitaroun, and Mais al-Jabal. Leaflets calling for the evacuation of the entire area south of the "yellow line" were dropped by the Israeli army on Mansouri (Sour), about three kilometers from this de facto demarcation line imposed by the Israelis.
Mutual accusations between Netanyahu and Hezbollah
These Israeli violations occurred as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting that Hezbollah's actions in Lebanon "sabotage the cease-fire," adding that the Israeli army is operating there "forcefully." Netanyahu maintained that Israeli operations are "in accordance with agreements made with the United States and Lebanon." Under the terms of the truce, Israel reserves the right to continue targeting Hezbollah.
Hezbollah, for its part, issued a statement denouncing Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks and reserving the "right" to retaliate against ongoing Israeli strikes. The party said it would not, in the face of these attacks, rely on the "inadequate diplomacy" of Lebanese authorities, whom it harshly criticized for their slow response to Israeli attacks and destruction. Among the "retaliatory" strikes claimed by Hezbollah, two attacks targeted Israeli soldiers in Taybeh and another targeted an artillery position set up on Lebanese territory in Bayyada, on the coast south of Sour. One of these drone attacks killed an Israeli soldier and wounded six others, the Israeli army confirmed, without specifying the sector.
Also in southern Lebanon, the municipality of Jdeidet Marjayoun called on all displaced persons and people not usually residing in the locality to leave, warning that "the entire village would be evacuated" otherwise, after receiving a threatening call from the Israeli army.
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