Israeli forces continued attacks in southern Lebanon on Tuesday but refrained from striking Beirut after a partial ceasefire agreement with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Under the deal announced by US President Donald Trump, Israel would not bomb the capital in exchange for Hezbollah refraining from attacking Israel.
Iran warned that Israeli actions in Lebanon jeopardized talks to end its war with the US. Following the ceasefire announcement, the Israeli military said it intercepted two projectiles fired into northern Israel. Hezbollah claimed attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes hit buildings next to Jabal Amel hospital in Tyre on Monday, killing four and wounding 127, including 39 hospital staff. The hospital director, Dr. Wael Mroueh, said there was no warning and denied any military target nearby.
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the area and acknowledged damage to the hospital but insisted it was not targeted. Lebanon's health ministry reported 128 paramedics and healthcare workers killed and 159 attacks on medical facilities in the past three months.
The Israeli military issued a fresh evacuation order for Nabatieh town on Tuesday, citing Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire. Hezbollah's military wing said it targeted Israeli tanks and troops in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon was drawn into the war on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader. At least 3,468 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to the health ministry. The UN says over one million people have been displaced.
On Monday, Lebanon's embassy in Washington said Hezbollah accepted a US-backed partial ceasefire proposal. Trump claimed he secured approval from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hezbollah representatives. Hezbollah has not publicly commented.
Some Israeli politicians criticized Netanyahu for accepting Trump's demand not to attack Beirut. Axios reported that Trump lashed out at Netanyahu in an expletive-laden call, demanding he abandon plans to strike Beirut. Iran's foreign minister warned that violating the ceasefire on one front violates it on all fronts.
Source: www.bbc.com