Israel says targeted Hezbollah operatives in Khiam strike
The Israeli army has claimed that Hezbollah militants were the target of a drone strike that killed a person in Khiam on Thursday and was swiftly condemned by caretaker PM Najib Mikati.
“An air force aircraft attacked a number of Hezbollah terrorists operating in the southern Lebanon area and posing a threat to Israeli citizens in violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the Israeli army said.
“The defense army remains committed to the understandings reached regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon, continuing its deployment in the southern Lebanon area and moving to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” it added.
An Israeli strike killed at least one person Thursday in the Lebanese border town of Khiam, the Health Ministry said, less than a day after Israeli troops handed the hilltop village back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers,
Khiam is the first Lebanese town Israel has pulled out of since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began two weeks ago, and marks an important test of the fragile truce.
Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency did not provide details on who was killed, and did not report airstrikes elsewhere on Thursday.
Lebanese troops deployed in the northern section of the town on Thursday morning and were coordinating with U.N. peacekeepers to finalize Israel’s withdrawal before fully entering into other neighborhoods.
Mikati sharply criticized Israel for striking the town less than 24 hours after the Lebanese army returned, saying it was “a violation of the pledges made by the parties that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, who must act to curb Israeli aggression.” The truce was brokered by the U.S. and France.
Israel has previously said the ceasefire deal allows it to use military force against perceived violations. Near-daily attacks by Israel during the ceasefire, mostly in southern Lebanon, have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others.
Khiam, which sits on a ridge less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war.
The Lebanese army was clearing debris and reopening roads in the northern section of the town. Civilian access to other areas remained challenging as the army clears roads and works alongside the U.N. peacekeepers to ensure the area is free of unexploded ordnance.
Source: Naharnet
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