Israel has attacked villages in Lebanon

TT

Published 18.45

 

Rescue workers inspect a site in southern Lebanon that Israel attacked on Thursday. Photo: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/TT

Israeli warplanes attacked several villages in southern Lebanon on Thursday, a day after residents were urged to flee.

According to the Lebanese health authority, at least one person was injured in the attacks.

The Israeli military says the attacks targeted targets linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

Avichay Adraee, an Arabic-speaking spokesman for the Israeli military, had previously urged people in four villages to leave their homes, a warning that was later extended to two more communities.

Israel says the attacks target Hezbollah infrastructure. The accusations allege that the Shiite militia is in the process of rebuilding its capabilities.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened as recently as Sunday to escalate attacks against Hezbollah, which signed a ceasefire with Israel in November last year. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to carry out attacks on Lebanese soil on a near daily basis.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has criticized Israel for the many attacks and for its ongoing occupation of Lebanese territory, but has also opened negotiations to find a solution. Israel's main demand is that Hezbollah be disarmed.

How such disarmament would take place is unclear, however – as recently as the other day, Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria and Lebanon, said that it is unreasonable to expect Lebanon to be up to the task.