The dead include two children and two women. According to Lebanese sources, since the beginning of the military escalation on March 2, over 2.5 people have been killed and the number of injured has exceeded 7.5 thousand as a result of the actions of the Israeli army. These data include 277 women, 177 children and 100 doctors. The Israeli military reported that 16 soldiers were killed during this period.
A spokesman for the Israeli army stated that the armed group Hezbollah is violating the ceasefire, therefore Israel will continue the operation in the south of Lebanon in order to first destroy rocket launchers and weapons warehouses.
Reuters quotes Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as saying at a government meeting in Jerusalem that the priority is Israel's security, the safety of Israeli soldiers and the civilian population.
For its part, Hezbollah announced that it would not stop attacks on Israeli troops in Lebanon and cities in northern Israel as long as Israel continues to violate ceasefires. The Iran-backed group added in a statement that it would not wait for diplomacy, which turned out to be ineffective, or rely on the Lebanese authorities, which “were unable to defend the country.”
Binyamin Netanyahu's order
The media reminds that on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to carry out massive attacks on Hezbollah positions and facilities in Lebanon, despite the existing ceasefire. According to the Times of Israel website, this decision was made after Hezbollah fired rockets and drones on Saturday towards northern Israel and Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in force since April 16. It was initially agreed for 10 days by representatives of the Israeli and Lebanese authorities with mediation by the US administration. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that the truce would be extended by three weeks.
