Israel keeping up its attacks in southern Lebanon
In the last few minutes, we’ve heard a very large explosion in the distance here in southern Lebanon. Israel is clearly keeping up its pressure on this part of Lebanon.
But in the last hour, the Health Ministry announced that four people were killed and five wounded in Israeli air raids on a relatively large town in the Sidon district.
That brings the death toll in the last 24 hours to 136.
This is putting so much pressure on not just the emergency service but also civil defence and all of the civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Israel raids three towns in southern Lebanon
Our colleagues on the ground are reporting that the Israeli army launched raids on al-Abbassieh, Harouf and Bedias in southern Lebanon. Earlier, US media reported that raids into Lebanon have included sending troops into Hezbollah tunnels along the border.
The report added that the small raids took place before a possible wider ground operation. However, the report pointed out that Israel is under heavy pressure from the US not to launch the operation, so the timing of the operation could be delayed.
More than 100,000 people crossed into Syria from Lebanon this month
More than 100,000 people – both Lebanese and Syrian nationals – have crossed into Syria from Lebanon since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah this month, the UN refugee agency’s (UNCHR) Filippo Grandi said.
In the last week, Israeli bombardment has killed more than 700 people in Lebanon, including 14 paramedics in two days.
Mohammed Saleh, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, told Al Jazeera of his double displacement.
“We were forced to leave Syria and come to Lebanon… where we were received with great hospitality. Now we are going back to my country, Syria,” Saleh said. “Lebanon is also our country and we feel very sad to leave. The Israelis have attacked and destroyed our second country Lebanon. I cry because of the children who were killed by the Israelis.”
