Lebanese leaders on Monday, May 11, urged the United States to pressure Israel to stop shelling several regions of the country, which continues despite a theoretically effective truce since April 17.
The latest toll from Israeli strikes, updated on Monday by the Lebanese Ministry of Health, stands at 2,869 dead since the start of the war between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and Israel on March 2, including dozens of people killed since the ceasefire came into effect.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam separately received US Ambassador Michel Issa to prepare for new discussions planned for May 14 and 15 in Washington between Lebanon and Israel.
President Aoun “emphasized the need to pressure Israel to stop the firing, end military operations, and halt the demolition and leveling of houses,” according to a statement from the presidency.
Nawaf Salam, on the other hand, asked the diplomat to “pressure Israel to end the persistent attacks and violations, in order to consolidate the ceasefire,” according to his office.
Israeli soldier killed near Lebanon
Israel intensified its strikes at the end of the week and on Monday called for the evacuation of nine Lebanese localities, including seven in the south and two in the east of the country. The official National News Agency reported strikes on several villages in these regions.
AFP correspondents witnessed bombings in several localities in the south and plumes of smoke rising from targeted sites. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces and Hezbollah exchange fire daily, mainly in southern Lebanon, where Israel controls a strip of about 10 km from the border.
The pro-Iranian Hezbollah claimed attacks against the Israeli army in Lebanese territory on Monday. A soldier “fell in battle” near the Lebanese border on Sunday, the Israeli army announced on Monday, with its losses now totaling 18 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed since the start of the war.
Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into a new war with Israel on March 2 by attacking its archenemy with rockets to avenge the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the Israeli-American offensive against Tehran. Israel responded by carrying out massive strikes and a ground incursion in the south.
“We are now facing the occupation of 68 Lebanese localities due to this war that was imposed on us,” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated in an interview with Al-Arabiya on Sunday evening.
