Lebanese leaders on Monday urged the United States to pressure Israel to stop its continued attacks on Lebanon, as Israeli airstrikes struck several parts of the country despite the ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
The renewed strikes came as tensions continued to rise along the border, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.
Death Toll Rises Across Lebanon
Lebanese authorities said the total number of people killed in Israeli strikes since March 2 has now reached 2,869. The figure also includes dozens of people who were killed after the ceasefire officially came into effect on April 17.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said one of its soldiers died a day earlier during clashes near the Lebanon border. According to Israel, 18 troops and one civilian contractor have been killed since the conflict began.
Lebanese Leaders Meet US Ambassador
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam separately met US ambassador Michel Issa ahead of a planned meeting between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington later this week.
During the meeting, Salam said he requested the United States to intervene. He said he asked Issa to “exert pressure on Israel to stop the ongoing attacks and violations, in order to consolidate the ceasefire”.
Israeli Strikes Intensify Near Beirut
Israel has recently increased its military operations in Lebanon. Weekend strikes reportedly reached areas around 20 kilometres from the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted more than 30 locations in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday.
The agency also reported casualties in several areas.
In the southern town of Zebdine, the NNA said an Israeli drone struck two people “while they were distributing bread” using a municipality vehicle for residents who had refused to leave the town.
Israel Defends Military Operations
Under the ceasefire terms announced by Washington, Israel says it can take military action against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”. The Israeli military also issued evacuation warnings for several towns in southern Lebanon and two towns in the Bekaa region before carrying out strikes.
Hundreds of Families Forced to Flee
The NNA reported a “large wave of displacement” in West Bekaa after hundreds of families fled the threatened areas. Lebanese authorities estimate that the war has displaced more than one million people so far.
Hezbollah Claims Retaliatory Attacks
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for at least 20 attacks targeting Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon.
The group said the attacks were retaliation for Israeli ceasefire violations. Hezbollah also claimed it targeted bulldozing equipment used by Israeli forces.
The Israeli army said two Hezbollah drones damaged unmanned engineering vehicles in southern Lebanon. It also claimed that Israeli troops had “eliminated” a militant cell operating in the area.
Conflict Expanded After Regional Tensions
Hezbollah entered the wider Middle East conflict on March 2 after launching rockets into Israel. The group said the attacks were carried out to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader during US-Israeli strikes.
Israel later responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground operation inside Lebanon. Israeli forces are currently operating inside a self-declared “yellow line” zone located around 10 kilometres north of the Lebanon border. Residents in those areas have been warned not to return.
Lebanese PM Says Villages Are Under Occupation
In an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya channel on Sunday, Salam said Lebanon was now dealing with occupation in several border areas.
He stated that the country was “facing the occupation of 68 Lebanese villages as a result of this war that was imposed on us”.