Israel has escalated daily attacks in Lebanon, flouting a one-year-old truce, while claiming it\u2019s targeting Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
Two brothers have been killed in an Israeli air raid on a vehicle between the southeastern Lebanese towns of Ain Ata and Shebaa, according to Lebanon\u2019s National News Agency (NNA), in the latest flagrant violation of a one-year-old ceasefire.<\/p>\n
In a separate attack on Saturday, an Israeli drone struck a car near Salah Ghandour Hospital in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, injuring seven people, Lebanon\u2019s Ministry of Health Affairs said. Two missiles struck the vehicle in the densely populated area.<\/p>\n
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Another Israeli drone attack, the third strike of the day, later hit a car in the Baraachit area, NNA reported.\u00a0A photo shared by the agency showed smoke rising over blazing wreckage on a road following the attack, which the ministry says killed one and injured four, according to NNA.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s military claimed the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah targets, without providing evidence.<\/p>\n
Despite the November 2024 truce, Israel has continued near-daily attacks<\/a> on its northern neighbour while maintaining forces in areas around the south.<\/p>\n Hezbollah maintains that it remains committed to the truce but insists it will not disarm while Israel occupies Lebanese territory and continues its attacks.<\/p>\n The European Union condemned recent Israeli strikes in a strong statement on Saturday and called for immediate adherence to the ceasefire.<\/p>\n \u201cThe EU calls on Israel to cease all actions that violate resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement reached a year ago in November 2024,\u201d EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said. He urged Hezbollah and other Lebanese groups to \u201crefrain from any measures or responses that could further inflame the situation\u201d.<\/p>\n The Lebanese army accused Israel of trying to \u201cundermine Lebanon\u2019s stability\u201d and obstruct the full deployment of Lebanese forces in accordance with the ceasefire.<\/p>\n Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the recent spate of attacks, describing them as a \u201cflagrant breach\u201d of international law, while Iran denounced them as \u201csavage\u201d and urged the global community to intervene.<\/p>\n Israeli attacks threaten civilians<\/p>\n On Thursday, at least one person was killed and nine injured in a series of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said Israel\u2019s attacks threaten civilians and undermine efforts by the Lebanese military to assert control over \u201cunauthorised weapons and infrastructure\u201d in southern Lebanon, a likely reference to Hezbollah.<\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, warned last week that Israel could intensify operations in Lebanon.<\/p>\n Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed the threat, saying, \u201cMaximum enforcement will continue and even intensify \u2013 we will not allow any threat to the residents of the north.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoun has condemned<\/a> Israel for ramping up its attacks after he signalled willingness to discuss de-escalation. The Lebanese government, under heavy pressure from the United States, has ordered the army to draft a plan to disarm Hezbollah \u2013 a move the group condemned as \u201chasty\u201d and dangerous.<\/p>\n Last week, Aoun instructed the armed forces\u00a0to confront any further Israeli incursion<\/a>\u00a0in the country\u2019s south after Israeli forces crossed their shared border and killed a municipal worker during an overnight raid.<\/p>\n Since the ceasefire, Israel has maintained troops in five areas in southern Lebanon and carried out regular attacks, which it claims target Hezbollah positions.<\/p>\n