Israel vows strong response after deadly strikes in south Lebanon
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday vowed to launch a strong strike following an escalation that left people dead in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
“No account on any front will remain unsettled. We will forcefully defend our soldiers and citizens,” Katz said on X.
On Saturday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said three Israeli personnel were seriously wounded after Hezbollah targeted them in southern Lebanon.
Earlier Saturday, 11 people, including three children, were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, the highest daily death toll since the two countries signed a framework agreement in late June.
The Israeli army said its strikes on the town of Ansar in southern Lebanon targeted a Hezbollah military official and came in response to an operation carried out by the group against its forces.
The Israeli army said in a statement that its forces attacked a Hezbollah command center and killed Ali Samir al-Hajj Hassan, who it identified as a sector commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the strike on Ansar killed seven people, including three children and two women.
The ministry also said four people were killed and 17 others wounded, including one child and 11 women, in another strike on Deir al-Zahrani.
Hezbollah said in a statement that Lebanese authorities should not continue the “humiliating” path of direct negotiations with Israel, saying that Israel’s “attacks, violations and attempts to impose a fait accompli cannot continue, and will be met with an appropriate response.”