Tel Aviv/Beirut, June 28, (dpa/GNA) – The Israeli military said on Sunday, that it killed several fighters from the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.
The incident, near the town of Nabatiyeh, occurred on Saturday, despite the ceasefire and signing of a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The Hezbollah fighters were armed with an anti-tank missile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. They were reportedly operating near a “security zone” declared by Israel.
The military said it attacked them to neutralize the threat. In addition, it said a Hezbollah rocket launch pad was destroyed.
Lebanese news agency NNA reported renewed Israeli attacks in the south, with soldiers in the village of Khiyam also setting houses on fire.
Local media reported several air strikes by fighter jets and drones in the south on Saturday evening.
After decades of conflict, Israel and the Lebanese government agreed on Friday on a path towards peace and security.
Hezbollah on the other hand rejects the agreement, calling it a humiliation and a surrender of Lebanese sovereignty. The militia was not involved in the negotiations and refuses to disarm as the accord demands, fuelling doubts whether it can succeed.
The agreement requires Israel to withdraw completely from southern Lebanon only once non-state groups such as Hezbollah have been disarmed.
However, it does call on the Israeli military to withdraw gradually from two zones, with the regular Lebanese army taking control there.
GNA