Israeli air attack kills six and wounds two in eastern Lebanon
An Israeli attack Saturday on a Hezbollah base in eastern Lebanon has killed six people and wounded two others, Lebanese state media has reported.
The state-run Lebanese News Agency (NNA) said the raid which was carried by “an enemy drone on the al-Shaara area adjacent to the town of Jennata, on the slopes of the eastern Lebanon mountain range, resulted in the killing of six people and the wounding of two others”.
The Israeli army said that earlier on Saturday Israeli warplanes conducted what it described as “an intelligence-based strike on Hezbollah operatives in the area of Bekaa in Lebanon”.
The attacks come amid a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which was agreed in November last year and recently extended until February 18.
Israel’s Netanyahu vows to ‘eliminate Hamas’ and ‘return our hostages’
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated an intention to destroy Hamas and bring home all captives held by the Palestinian group following today’s fifth captive-prisoner exchange as part of the ceasefire deal.
“We will eliminate Hamas, and we will return our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a video statement, denouncing the group as “monsters” after the handover of three captives in Gaza earlier today, during which they appeared emaciated and were compelled to speak on stage.
Israeli negotiators in Qatar ‘unauthorised’ to discuss next phase of Gaza ceasefire: Report
Israel’s negotiating team set to travel to Qatar on Sunday is not authorised to discuss the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, according to the Israeli public broadcaster Kan.
The Israeli team reportedly includes Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the captives, and a former deputy chief of the Shin Bet internal security service, whose name was not disclosed.
Kan said the mandate of the negotiating team is limited to discussing the continuation of the first phase of the agreement.
According to Kan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to extend the first phase of the deal – set to end by March 1 – for as long as possible.
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