BEIRUT, (PIC)
Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon intensified this week, killing medics and a journalist, damaging a hospital and drawing new Hezbollah strikes on Israeli troops and military vehicles, as tensions continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire.
Four paramedics from the Islamic Health Society were martyred early Friday in an Israeli strike on a medical post in Hannawiyah, in Tyre district, while two others were wounded.
Lebanon’s Civil Defense also said two paramedics were martyred in an Israeli strike on Deir Qanoun al-Nahr. Local sources said photojournalist Ahmad Hariri was among the martyrs in the same attack.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry condemned an Israeli strike near Tebnine Governmental Hospital, saying the facility sustained heavy damage and nine people were wounded, including seven hospital employees.
The attacks followed more than 30 Israeli air and artillery strikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday, killing at least one person and wounding at least nine others. Another person was killed in an Israeli drone strike on a motorcycle in the town of Froun.
The strikes hit areas in the districts of Bint Jbeil, Tyre, Marjayoun and Nabatieh, including Tebnine, Yater, Mansouri, Srifa, Ain Baal, Touline and Kfar Tebnit.
Israeli artillery also targeted several towns, while the Israeli occupation forces carried out demolition operations in Khiam and intensified drone and helicopter flights over the south.
For its part, Hezbollah said it carried out 16 attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles in southern Lebanon using rockets and attack drones. The group said some of the drones used fiber-optic technology, which has raised concern in Israel because it is difficult to detect or jam.
The Israeli army acknowledged Thursday that seven soldiers, including two officers, were wounded when an explosive drone detonated in southern Lebanon.
It said one soldier was seriously wounded, while others sustained moderate and minor injuries. A day earlier, the army said Col. Meir Biderman, commander of the 401st Brigade, was seriously wounded in a drone attack in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said its attacks targeted Israeli military gatherings and vehicles in Dibil, Rshaf, al-Bayada, Hadatha, Deir Seryan and al-Qawzah, describing the strikes as retaliation for Israeli ceasefire violations and attacks on southern villages.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll from Israel’s assault since March 2 has risen to 3,089, with 9,397 wounded and more than one million displaced.
Politically, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on nine people in Lebanon, including Hezbollah lawmakers, figures from the Amal Movement and officials in the Lebanese army and General Security, accusing them of obstructing peace efforts and efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Hezbollah rejected the sanctions as an attempt to intimidate Lebanese officials and support Israeli aggression against Lebanon.
The group said those targeted were being punished for opposing the disarmament of the resistance and called on Lebanese authorities to protect national sovereignty and defend state security and military institutions from foreign pressure.
