25 killed in bloody day of Israeli raids on Lebanon
The Israeli occupation forces continued their military escalation against Lebanese territory, committing a series of violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement in force since April 17. During the past 24 hours, 25 people were killed and 108 others were injured, bringing the total number of victims of the aggression since its launch on March 2 to 2,759 dead and 8,512 wounded.
From the south to the depth of the mountain
In the south and Nabatieh, 7 people were killed in the town of Sikskiya in the district of Saida, and 3 victims were killed in a raid that targeted a car between Burj Rahal and Abbasiya, while a raid on the Al-Bayad neighborhood in Nabatieh left 3 others dead.
Lebanese media reported that the occupation marches targeted motorcycles and cars on public roads in Nabatieh, Ramadiya and Deir Qanoun, killing a number of civilians, including Syrians.
In the Chouf region, shelling affected central Lebanon, where 6 people were killed in raids targeting the Chouf district and the Saadiyat coastal highway.
In this context, military experts revealed that Israel is seeking to evacuate about 13% of Lebanon's area by turning border villages into rubble, as happened in the Gaza Strip.
The occupation army carried out extensive blowing up operations on houses and buildings in the towns of Al-Bayada, Khiam, Aita Al-Shaab and Bint Jbeil.
Israeli forces are currently deployed in a security zone known as the "Yellow Line," a 10-kilometre-deep stretch that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Syrian border in the east.
Hezbollah's Responses and the Situation on the Ground in the North
On the other hand, Hezbollah announced the implementation of specific attacks using squadrons of swooping drones, targeting gatherings of occupation vehicles and soldiers in the positions of "Nimr al-Camel", Tir Harfa, Shama, and Rashaf.
The Israeli military acknowledged that one reservist was seriously wounded and two others were moderately wounded as a result of the attacks. Inside Israel, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona described the ceasefire as "fake," pointing to the disruption of normal life and the education sector in the northern settlements.
Upcoming Washington Negotiations
Amid this boiling ground on the ground, the US State Department announced a third round of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on May 14 and 15 .
US State Department spokesman Tommy Bigott said today via the "X" platform that the negotiations sponsored by Washington between Lebanon and Israel aim to achieve lasting peace. The United States will facilitate intensive two-day talks between Israel and Lebanon on May 14 and 15, continuing the round held on April 23 and led by US President Donald Trump personally.
"These discussions are aimed at moving toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement that addresses the fundamental concerns of both countries, and to move away from the failed approach of the past two decades that has allowed terrorist groups to entrench, undermine the authority of the Lebanese state and threaten Israel's northern borders," Beigot added.
The negotiations come under U.S. auspices and before the expiration of President Donald Trump's truce until May 17.
Lebanon raised the level of its official representation in this tour, as the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, received Ambassador Simon Karam, head of the negotiating delegation, before his departure for the American capital.
Worsening humanitarian crisis and displacement
Ongoing Israeli violations have deprived more than 1.6 million displaced Lebanese of returning to their homes, with the dream of returning turned into a "bitter wait" in shelters in Beirut and elsewhere.
Although the truce is theoretically in effect, the systematic destruction and forced displacement of residents from dozens of border villages continue under the pretext of targeting military infrastructure.