Thirteen members of Lebanon’s security forces were killed today in the south of the country in Israeli airstrikes, according to a new report, amid intense diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt its deadly strikes.
“This painful loss only serves to strengthen our determination to achieve a ceasefire that will protect Lebanon and our people in the south,” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement, as Washington is expected to host talks between the two countries next week.
President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to “assume its responsibilities to put an end to the repeated Israeli attacks.”
The strikes targeted the city of Nabatiya, mainly the administrative complex in the city center, killing 13 people, according to the latest official count.
A French News Agency photographer observed significant damage to the complex, where a fire broke out.
Since the ceasefire between the United States and Iran went into effect on Wednesday, Israel says Lebanon is not included in that agreement, and has since escalated its attacks against the Islamist movement Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran.
The Israeli army said today it had “destroyed” more than 4.300 Hezbollah infrastructure since the start of the war between the two sides on March 2, which has killed some 1,900 people.
He also said he has “eliminated” more than 1,400 Shiite militants during airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah is not releasing casualty figures.
