Netanyahu orders ‘heavy strikes’ on Hezbollah after ceasefire violations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday ordered the military to carry out ‘forceful strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon’, following what Israel described as repeated violations of a recently extended ceasefire by the Iran-backed group, according to his office.
In a brief statement, Netanyahu’s office said he instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to “forcefully attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon” after the military accused the group of launching rockets and drones toward northern Israel and Israeli positions in southern Lebanon.
The escalation comes as cross-border hostilities continue despite a ceasefire extension announced earlier this week. Israel’s military said Hezbollah had carried out multiple attacks on its forces stationed in southern Lebanon, calling the actions a “blatant violation” of the truce arrangements. The IDF also said it intercepted additional aerial targets and identified projectiles launched from Lebanese territory.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on Saturday killed at least six people in southern Lebanon. Two separate attacks in the Nabatieh district’s Yohmor al-Shaqeef village reportedly hit a truck and a motorcycle, killing four people. A later strike in Safad al-Battikh in the Bint Jbeil district killed two more and injured 17.
The Israeli military said it had targeted and killed several Hezbollah operatives, including individuals it claimed were transporting weapons and moving in armed vehicles. It said the operations were conducted in response to imminent threats and ongoing attacks from the group.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it struck an Israeli army vehicle in southern Lebanon in retaliation for the earlier Israeli strikes, maintaining that its actions were defensive and in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
The violence happened despite a ceasefire that began on April 17 and was recently extended for several weeks following an announcement by US President Donald Trump. However, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of sabotaging the agreement.
With AFP inputs