Synopsis
Two individuals were killed in Israeli airstrikes that targeted a house in Ainata, southern Lebanon, as confirmed by Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. The airstrikes also resulted in significant destruction in the area.Key Takeaways
- Two fatalities confirmed in Ainata, Lebanon.
- Israeli airstrikes targeted a residential building.
- Destruction of temporary homes reported in Kafr Kila.
- Israeli military continues operations despite ceasefire.
- Lebanese security forces investigating casualties.
Beirut/Jerusalem, March 17 (NationPress) Two individuals lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes that targeted a residence in the village of Ainata, located in southern Lebanon, as per the reports from Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
The centre, linked to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, verified the airstrikes and the associated casualties in a statement issued on Sunday.
A source from Lebanese security disclosed that Israeli warplanes launched two air-to-ground missiles at the residence, resulting in casualties and the destruction of the building, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
According to the source, "Civil Defence teams are actively working to remove the debris."
In a different incident, Israeli helicopters targeted prefabricated homes in the village of Kafr Kila, situated in southeastern Lebanon, firing three missiles that completely demolished the structures.
The source indicated that these temporary homes were established by locals about two weeks prior as makeshift shelters during the reconstruction of their damaged residences. No casualties were reported in this instance.
Additionally, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli drone released a stun grenade on Sunday afternoon near a civilian evaluating his property in the village of Ramyah.
The NNA further stated that the Lebanese Red Cross transported three deceased individuals from the village of Al-Qasr, adjacent to the Syrian border, to Hermel Governmental Hospital. Security forces are currently probing the matter.
On the same day, the Israeli military reported a gunshot striking a vehicle in the northern Israeli settlement of Avivim, with no immediate injuries reported.
"The gunshot likely originated from Lebanese territory," the military stated, adding that troops are surveying the area and that the incident is under investigation.
Israel's state-owned Kan TV News suggested that the gunfire may have resulted from stray shots during a funeral in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz directed the military to target positions in the region of Ainata on Sunday, issuing a stern warning to the Lebanese government, stating, "We will not tolerate fire from Lebanese territory towards northern Israeli communities; we will respond decisively to any breach of the ceasefire."
Later that day, Israel's military announced it had attacked a command and control center of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, along with other structures utilized by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, asserting that their presence represented "a clear violation of the agreements between Israel and Lebanon."
Despite a ceasefire established largely between Hezbollah and Israel since November of the previous year, ending over a year of conflict following the Gaza war, Israel has continued military operations and executed numerous strikes in Lebanon, resulting in casualties.
