Lebanese authorities said Saturday afternoon that at least 16 people were killed and 12 others wounded in Israeli strikes in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon. The reports came after Lebanon described a series of “nonstop” attacks overnight and into the morning in Nabatieh and other parts of the south, despite a US announcement the day before that a new ceasefire had taken effect as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to push Iran toward a final nuclear deal.
The IDF said in a statement to foreign media that it was striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and said the operation was a response to attacks by the Lebanese militant group against Israeli forces stationed in the security strip, despite the ceasefire declaration. “During the night, the terrorist organization Hezbollah fired more than 50 munitions toward Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Following those attacks, the IDF is striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon,” the army said in English.
Soon after, Reuters quoted a senior Hezbollah figure as threatening that the group would not allow Israel “freedom of movement” in what he described as occupied Lebanese territory. Separately, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the Shiite organization had a “right” to respond and launch attacks.
“We are talking about a ceasefire. For us, what matters is that the enemy fully and completely respects this ceasefire, and does not try to attack our country and our villages, or seize new positions,” Fadlallah said. “The resistance has every right to confront this enemy when it attacks us, because it is the aggressor and the occupier.”
