Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals and injuries to several others on Saturday. Concurrently, the Israeli military carried out demolitions at a Catholic convent in a border village. The military issued evacuation warnings to residents of nine southern villages, with both Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group continuing their hostilities despite a ceasefire in place since April 17.
In the border village of Yaroun, the Israeli military utilized bulldozers to dismantle parts of a Catholic convent that had been unoccupied due to the recent conflict. The convent, managed by the Basilian Salvatorian Sisters, housed a school that had been shut down since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict and a clinic that had been relocated to a nearby village.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated that while targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Yaroun, a structure without religious insignia was unintentionally damaged. Upon realizing its connection to a church, the military ceased further destruction. The military alleged that the compound had been previously used by Hezbollah to launch attacks on Israel but clarified that religious sites are not intentionally targeted.
Contrary to the military’s claims, the Catholic Church in Lebanon refuted allegations of the compound being used for military purposes. Rev. Abdo Abou Kassm emphasized the sanctity of places of worship and denounced any military use of such locations.
Following the convent demolition, reports emerged of an Israeli soldier desecrating a fallen statue of Jesus in the village of Debel, sparking condemnation. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah assaults persisted in other parts of southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported casualties from Israeli airstrikes in various villages, with the Israeli military conducting around 50 airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions. Hezbollah retaliated by using a drone to target Israeli troops in Bayed.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah commenced on March 2, escalating tensions in the region. Both countries have engaged in talks for the first time in decades, with a ceasefire established in Washington on April 17 and subsequently extended. The toll from the war in Lebanon stands at 2,659 fatalities and 8,183 injuries according to the Health Ministry.
