Lebanon reports 11 dead in strikes that Israel says targeted Hezbollah

NEGOTIATIONS

Hezbollah said that the escalation, “targeting civilians and expanding the areas targeted”, reflected a desire by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to escalate the war in order to strengthen his domestic political position”.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.

Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 4,300 people.

Violence has dropped since the US-Iran memorandum of understanding on the broader Middle East war in June, and the Israel-Lebanon framework deal later that month.

But Lebanon still reports intermittent Israeli strikes and broad demolitions of civilian buildings in southern villages and towns.

In Ansar, standing next to the murky swimming pool, Mohammed Saab said he waited every year to rent his property out over the summer.

“What do I have here for this to happen?” he said in shock.

The Israel-Lebanon framework deal includes the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in “pilot zones”.

On Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem accused Lebanese authorities of subjecting the country’s armed forces to undue pressure by implementing the deal.

Also this week, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon, vowing to keep troops in the “security zone”.

But a US State Department official said “a permanent military presence in south Lebanon is not consistent with the commitments made in the framework”.