Israeli strikes kill 20 in Lebanon hours after ceasefire
One of the deadliest Israeli strikes hit a three-storey residential building in the southern town of Barish in the Tyre district, killing a father, mother and their two children
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 20 people on Saturday, Lebanon's state news agency said, one day after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, underscoring the fragility of a truce aimed at halting months of escalating violence.
Israel said the strikes were a response to projectiles fired overnight by the Iran-backed group. An Israeli military official said Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what the official described as "Hezbollah targets".
Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones had struck multiple locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Hezbollah accused Israel of committing hundreds of ceasefire violations, and warned that continued attacks "will not pass without a response".
Israeli military occupying parts of South Lebanon
Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that the military had been instructed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz to hold fire in Lebanon, but would not withdraw from areas it had captured.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli government.
The Israeli military, which occupies parts of southern Lebanon, said Hezbollah's attacks constituted repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.
It said it remained committed to the truce in line with political directives, and would respond decisively to any attacks on Israeli civilians or troops.
Deadly strikes
One of the deadliest Israeli strikes hit a three-storey residential building in the southern town of Barish in the Tyre district, killing a father, mother and their two children, a local village official told Reuters.
The Lebanese army said an Israeli strike killed a soldier on the Kfarrumman-Nabatieh road and accused Israel of undermining efforts to restore stability.
Israel's Arabic-language military spokesperson said calm could be achieved if Hezbollah halted what she described as hostile activity and violations of agreements, adding Israel's presence in a security zone aimed to remove threats and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure, not harm civilians.
The ceasefire was agreed on Friday after a sharp escalation in hostilities. A U.S. official said it took effect at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT) that day, while a senior Israeli official and two Hezbollah sources confirmed the agreement.
Lebanon's health ministry says 3,912 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, including medics, women and children. Israeli authorities say at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in the latest hostilities.
The U.S.-Iran understanding announced this week calls for an immediate, permanent end to military operations by the parties and their allies across multiple fronts, including Lebanon.
Israel, which was not part of those negotiations, has opposed provisions it says could constrain its campaign in Lebanon.