Israeli military carries out strikes on southern Lebanon
The Israeli military has carried out three air raids on southern Lebanon in recent hours, our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues report, citing local sources. Israeli fighter jets launched an air strike in the early hours of this morning in the Zawtar area near the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
Before that, the Israeli military also carried out two separate air strikes on homes in the town of Yaroun near Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. There was no immediate report of casualties.
The attacks mark the latest Israeli violations of a ceasefire that went into effect on November 27. The CNN broadcaster cited a source with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as saying that Israel has violated the truce 100 times in the past week.
Israel has been claiming it is acting against violations by Hezbollah. Analysts say the US-brokered truce deal appears to be designed to make Hezbollah cease fire, but not Israel.
A man cleans rubble and debris from damaged buildings after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, on December 4
Children, women ‘incinerated’ in Israel’s latest attack on al-Mawasi
The Israeli army has issued a statement saying that it carried out what it described as a “precise air strike” against a Hamas operative in the so-called humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi in Khan Younis.
Now, this is an area of sand dunes that has no services, no water, no electricity. But it is where Israel has squeezed in much of the displaced population in Gaza.
According to medical sources in Gaza, 20 people were killed – incinerated really – in that attack, including women and children. Those facts again debunk Israel’s claims that it takes measures to avoid civilian casualties. And this is not the first time that Israel has attacked civilians in the so-called humanitarian zone in their tents.
Eyewitnesses and survivors described this particular attack as very large and very unusual – a large ball of fire consuming the tents and shrapnel that set other tents on fire, flying hundreds of metres away from the target.
Scenes of ‘horror’ in al-Mawasi after deadly Israeli attack
Our correspondent Hani Mahmoud spoke to rescuers and witnesses moments after the bombing. He said rescuers described scenes of “horror” at the targeted site, with victims burned “beyond recognition” and others “torn into small pieces”.
He said the attacks started major fires, which civil defence crews struggled to contain.
‘Violent’ Israeli bombing campaign reported in Gaza City
Al-Aqsa TV, a Gaza-based outlet, is reporting that Israel’s military has launched a “violent bombing campaign” in northern Gaza City in the early hours of this morning. It said the neighbourhoods of Sabra and Tal al-Hawa were attacked.
Al Jazeera Arabic, citing Palestinian sources, is also reporting Israeli air raids on north Gaza, as well as shelling in Beit Lahiya and Jabalia in the north and the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central area.
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