In brief
The ongoing conflict in Lebanon intensifies as three more Lebanese soldiers are reported killed due to Israeli airstrikes around Beirut. While Israel claims to target Hezbollah assets, calls for accountability grow following repeated incidents involving Lebanese military casualties.
Lebanon's military reported on Thursday that an Israeli airstrike in the southern region of the country has resulted in the deaths of three soldiers. This incident occurred while the Lebanese forces were engaged in operations to evacuate wounded civilians near the town of Yater. According to reports, Israel’s military is investigating whether these soldiers were inadvertently harmed during its ongoing operations against Hezbollah, a militant group active in the region. They emphasized their intention not to target members of the Lebanese Army.This incident marks the fourth time this month that Lebanese soldiers have been killed in such strikes, raising concerns about the increasing entanglement of the Lebanese military in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Just this week, the Israeli military had formally apologized for the deaths of three other Lebanese soldiers, insisting that their main focus wasn't aimed at the Lebanese army.The Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon continues as airstrikes are reported across the country, specifically targeting areas known for Hezbollah activities, like Dahiya, a densely populated neighborhood near Beirut. The Israeli military asserts they are targeting civilian structures used for military purposes and have reportedly issued evacuation notices for residents in the affected buildings.In a related event, the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese television channel al-Mayadeen reported damage to its offices from an overnight Israeli strike. The channel claims they were not warned prior to the attack and have called upon Israel to take responsibility for targeting their media outlet, which is perceived as affiliated with Hezbollah and Iran. No injuries have been reported from the strike, but the incident underscores the complexities and dangers involved in the current military operations within Lebanon.
