Civilian casualties mount in Lebanon as ‘Israel’ attempts to justify airstrikes
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health announced Friday that one woman was killed and 13 others injured following a series of ‘Israeli’ airstrikes on various areas in southern Lebanon.
The strikes reportedly included the use of "shockwave missiles" fired at forested areas, causing massive blasts and wounding at least seven more civilians.
Israeli Occupation military claimed responsibility, saying its aircraft targeted a Hezbollah site in the Shaqif area allegedly used to manage fire-control and defense systems. It said the facility was part of an underground project previously hit and later rebuilt, labeling its presence a violation of prior agreements.
Read more: VIDEO: 'Israeli' airstrikes kill woman, injure 10 in southern Lebanon
In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the assault, saying the ‘Israeli’ entity "continues to defy international resolutions and calls for de-escalation," and urged the international community to take meaningful action.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also denounced the airstrikes, calling them "a blatant violation of national sovereignty and a direct threat to stability."
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry, in an official letter to the UN Secretary-General, called for the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate and demanded the immediate withdrawal of ‘Israeli’ forces from occupied Lebanese territory, citing repeated violations.
While the US-brokered ceasefire agreement stipulates Hezbollah’s withdrawal from south of the Litani River in exchange for increased Lebanese Army and UNIFIL presence, the occupation has reportedly maintained a military presence in five strategic areas, an issue strongly rejected by Lebanese authorities.
Meanwhile, 'Israeli' army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that no civilian structures were intentionally targeted in the Nabatieh strike. He alleged that a civilian building was hit due to a secondary explosion caused by stored munitions inside the Hezbollah facility, further accusing the group of endangering civilians by storing rockets near residential areas.
