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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Saturday that deadly new Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon sent a “clear message” on peace negotiations between the two nations, according to a statement from his office.
Lebanese state media had earlier reported that at least 11 people, including three children and two women, had been killed following Israeli strikes on Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani, in one of the deadliest attacks on the nation since a US-led framework agreement aiming to ease hostilities was reached in June.
“President Aoun considered that these violations send a clear message regarding the negotiation process and the US efforts aimed at implementing this agreement,” the statement from the president’s office reads, adding that “an entire family from the town of Ansar” had been killed in the attacks.
The Israeli military has said the strikes were carried out in response to an attack by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah on IDF troops “in the Ali al-Taher Ridge, which is located in the security zone.”
Lebanon became caught up in the war between Israel, the US, and Iran, which began in late February, after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel over the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Israel launched a series of strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon in response, establishing a “security zone” in the region as its forces worked to destroy what it says is “terror infrastructure”.
In a statement later on Saturday, Hezbollah warned that the latest Israeli attacks would “be met with an appropriate response.”
“The Israeli enemy must clearly understand that its acts of aggression, violations, and attempts to impose a fait accompli cannot continue,” the group said, while also calling on Lebanese authorities to “cease chasing after US-led negotiations.”
Under the terms of the June framework deal agreed by Israel and Lebanon, Israeli forces were to gradually withdraw from Lebanon “pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure.”