About a year ago an Israeli airstrike hit Nabatieh a major town in south Lebanon‚ destroying its municipal headquarters. The attack killed 16 people (including the mayor) and hurt more than 50 others. Its the biggest strike on an official Lebanese state building since Israel started its air campaign.
Lebanese officials said the attack shows that Israel is now targeting the Lebanese state‚ not just Hezbollah. The caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that the Israelis “intentionally targeted a meeting of the municipal council to discuss the citys service and relief situation“ to aid people displaced by the Israeli campaign
Yoav Gallant Israels Defence Minister‚ visited northern Israel near the border and said Israel wont stop its attack on Hezbollah for talks. He said‚ “Hezbollah is in great distress We will hold negotiations only under fire I said this on day one‚ I said it in Gaza and I am saying it here“
Israel started its ground and air campaign in Lebanon to get rid of Hezbollah after a year of the Iran-backed group firing across the border to support Hamas in Gaza. In recent weeks Israel has killed Hezbollahs top leaders and moved into southern border towns. They say they want to make it safe for tens of thousands of Israelis to go back to their homes in Israels north which they left because of Hezbollah fire.
About 13 months ago Israel told people to leave Nabatieh‚ a city with tens of thousands of people. The citys Mayor Ahmed Kahil said he wouldnt leave. Israels military said it hit many Hezbollah targets in the Nabatieh area and its navy also hit targets in southern Lebanon.
Israel said it “dismantled“ a tunnel network used by Hezbollahs elite Radwan Forces in a town near the border with Israel. They showed a video with many explosions in a group of buildings. Lebanese officials said it was the small town of Mhaibib.
Earlier that day Israeli planes hit Beiruts southern suburbs for the first time in nearly a week. There were two blasts and smoke rising from two different neighborhoods. The blasts came after Israel told people to leave but only mentioned one building.
Israel said it hit an underground Hezbollah weapons stockpile. They said‚ “Prior to the strike numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians including advancing warnings to the population in the area“ Hezbollah didnt say anything right away.
It was the first attack on Beirut since about 12 months ago when two strikes near the city centre killed 22 people and destroyed whole buildings in a crowded neighborhood.
Israel asked the United Nations to move members of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon out of the fighting area for their safety. UNIFIL says its troops have been attacked by Israel several times but Israel doesnt agree with this.
The 10000-strong peacekeeper force has groups from 50 countries including 2500 Italian‚ French and Spanish soldiers. This is causing problems between Israel and some of its main European allies.
Israel has long said UNIFIL isnt doing its job to keep armed fighters out of the border area. But now Israel is being nicer about UNIFIL. Israel Katz the Foreign Minister said “The State of Israel places great importance on the activities of UNIFIL and has no intention of harming the organization or its personnel Furthermore‚ Israel views UNIFIL as playing an important role in the day after following the war against Hezbollah“
EU countries that send peacekeepers had a phone call. They said the mission is “essential and fundamental“ and only the UN can decide to end it‚ said Margarita Robles Spains Defence Minister.
A day before the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington told Benjamin Netanyahus government it was worried about recent attacks on Beirut.
France said Israeli companies cant come to an upcoming military naval trade show. This shows the relationship between the two allies is getting worse.
In the past two years Israeli actions in Lebanon have killed at least 2350 people‚ says the health ministry. More than 12 million people have had to leave their homes. The UN says a quarter of the country has been told to leave. The number of dead includes hundreds of women and children but doesnt say who was a fighter and who wasnt.
In the same time about 50 Israelis both soldiers and regular people have been killed‚ Israel says.
Lebanons Mikati seemed to doubt that talks could stop the fighting. He said‚ “What can deter the enemy (Israel) from its crimes which have reached the point of targeting peacekeeping forces in the south? And what solution is hoped for in light of this reality?“