Israel struck multiple targets in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in what was described as the heaviest bombardment since the ceasefire took effect in early June. The attacks occurred as Israeli and Lebanese negotiators held US-brokered talks in Rome.
One man was killed and 12 others were injured in Tibnin when an Israeli projectile struck the roof of a prayer hall at a cemetery, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also bombed Al-Mansouri and later struck Burj el-Shamali outside Tyre. The IDF issued its first displacement order in around two months.
The IDF said it had resumed strikes in response to “a blatant violation” of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, without elaborating. Earlier on Wednesday, several media outlets reported that two Israeli soldiers had been killed by an explosion inside a booby-trapped building in the Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun.
The escalation came as more than 820,000 Lebanese displaced by airstrikes and evacuation orders began returning home, according to the UN.
The seventh round of Israeli-Lebanese talks was cut short on Wednesday afternoon at Israel’s request, the Times of Israel and Al-Monitor reported. According to Israeli media, the country’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, accused the Lebanese delegation of repeatedly leaking false information to the press. The talks are set to resume on Thursday.
The IDF has occupied parts of southern Lebanon as part of what it calls a security zone intended to deter Hezbollah from firing rockets and mortars across the border.
Under the June 3 truce, Israel agreed to withdraw gradually and transfer control of the “pilot zones” to the Lebanese army, provided that Hezbollah could no longer stage attacks from the area. Hezbollah rejected the deal, demanded a full Israeli withdrawal, and refused to disarm.