Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says his country is at risk of being drawn into a “new war” as dozens of new air strikes, Israel says were targeting Hezbollah, have killed at least two people.
Salam issued the warning on Saturday, saying Israel’s “renewed military operations on the southern border” would bring “woes to Lebanon and the Lebanese people”.
At least two people are confirmed killed and eight others injured by Israeli air raids, according to reports from Lebanon’s National News Agency. Three of the victims, including one of those killed, are children, it said, citing the government-run Public Health Emergency Operations Center.
Israeli artillery and air strikes hit southern Lebanon after its military said it intercepted three rockets launched from a Lebanese district about 6km (4 miles) north of their shared border. Israel said it targeted rocket launchers it claimed belong to Hezbollah, which it holds responsible for the launches.
Hezbollah issued a statement denying any involvement in the series of rocket attacks on northern Israel from southern Lebanon.
In its statement, Hezbollah accused Israel of creating a pretext to renew its air attacks and reiterated its commitment to a ceasefire signed in November, which ended a year of war between the two sides.
Quoting two security sources, Israel’s Army Radio reported that the military response in southern Lebanon has not finished.
“There will be additional strikes in the coming hours,” the sources said.
Saturday’s reported exchange was the first since Israel on Tuesday abandoned a separate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian group Hamas.
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