Kathmandu [Nepal], September 8 – Israeli airstrikes overnight killed 11 people in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman including two infants Lebanese state media reported on Monday, a day after separate Israeli raids killed seven people.
The strikes came amid renewed Israeli military operations in the Nabatieh area following Israel’s claim last week that it had seized the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge from Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group has not commented on the claim.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said nine people were killed when an overnight strike destroyed a three-storey residential building in Kfar Rumman. Two rescuers were also killed when their vehicle was targeted while rescue teams continued searching the rubble for other victims.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused Hezbollah of carrying out repeated drone attacks and attempting to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon saying the group had violated the ceasefire agreement requiring its disarmament.
The Israeli military said an explosive drone had been launched toward its forces and that Hezbollah’s activities had prompted military action. It also issued an evacuation warning before a separate strike on a building in nearby Deir Zahrani.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has urged Washington and the international community to help halt Israeli attacks.
Lebanon says more than 4,300 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion since March. Israeli forces are also operating inside a self-declared security zone extending about 10 kilometre into Lebanon.
