At least 15 Lebanese were killed and 83 wounded in Israeli fire as they tried to return to their homes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, local media reported.
The state-run NNA news agency said three people were killed in the town of Aitaroun, three in Houla, four in Markabi and two in Mays al-Jabal. One death each was reported in Al-Adisa, Blida, Kfarkili and Dahiri.
They were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on people trying to return to their homes in southern Lebanon.
The escalation came as Israeli troops remained on Lebanese soil despite a 60-day deadline for their withdrawal from southern Lebanon expired on Sunday.
The Lebanese army, meanwhile, called on civilians to exercise restraint and follow instructions it had issued to ensure their safety.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also called on southern Lebanese residents to “show restraint and have confidence in the armed forces.”
“Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable, and I am following this issue at the highest levels to ensure your rights and dignity,” Aoun added in a statement.
Lebanon’s interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the countries sponsoring the ceasefire agreement “to force the enemy (Israel) to withdraw from the south.”
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been in place since November 27 last year, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that began on October 8, 2023 and escalated into a full-scale conflict on September 23, 2024.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is required to withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line – the de facto border – in phases, while the Lebanese army is to deploy in southern Lebanon within 60 days.
Figures from the Lebanese Ministry of Health show that since the beginning of Israel’s attack on Lebanon on October 8, 2023, at least 4,068 people have been killed, including women, children and health workers, while 16,670 have been injured, AA writes.
