Seven killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon as US-hosted ceasefire talks continue into a second day
Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least seven people were killed in fresh Israeli strikes on the country's south. The attacks came on the second day of direct ceasefire talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations in Washington. The UN mission UNIFIL renewed its call for the violations to stop.
Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least seven people were killed in Israeli strikes on several villages and positions in the country's south. Children were among the wounded. The strikes coincided with the second day of direct ceasefire talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations being held in Washington with US facilitation.
According to people close to the US State Department, the talks are covering the line-of-demarcation arrangement, the future configuration of the UN-flagged UNIFIL mission and the pullback of certain military assets. The Lebanese delegation said the latest strikes are weakening the basis for the talks. The Israeli side said the targets were 'active threat assets' and that the country's commitment to the process continues.
UNIFIL renewed its call for the violations to stop and stressed that the independence of observer teams on the ground must be protected. Hezbollah's grassroots support in the south remains strong, and recent BBC reporting from the area has shown that the existing ceasefire is not being applied comprehensively. The talks are expected to be extended into a third session on Monday.
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