Beirut accuses Israel of pursuing a “scorched earth policy” in Lebanon, hit again by the Israeli army

The Lebanese Prime Minister on Saturday accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched earth policy” against his country, after new Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire theoretically in force.

At the same time, “more than 25” projectiles (rockets and drones) were launched during the day against Israel from Lebanon, an Israeli military spokesperson told AFP.

In a televised speech, Nawaf Salam judged that the “policy of scorched earth and collective punishment” carried out by the neighboring country “will bring neither security nor stability”.

The day after new Israeli-Lebanese discussions in Washington, he nevertheless defended the continuation of negotiations with Israel, whose army continues to advance deep into Lebanon.

These negotiations constitute “the least expensive path” for Beirut, underlined the head of government.

Clashes between Israel and pro-Iranian Hezbollah are almost daily despite the truce of April 17, which has never been respected.

On Saturday morning, the Israeli army called on the inhabitants of more than a dozen Lebanese villages to evacuate before strikes which affected several localities in the south, according to the Lebanese National Information Agency (Ani, official).

For its part, the Lebanese army announced that a “targeted” Israeli drone strike had hit and seriously injured two of its soldiers on board a vehicle, near the southern town of Nabatiyé.

Artillery fire also targeted the surroundings of the medieval Beaufort fortress, the day after statements by the Minister of Culture expressing concern about the “serious danger” posed by Israeli attacks on heritage.

In a statement, President Joseph Aoun and the Prime Minister denounced “the reprehensible practices of Israel”, the “extension” of its attacks as well as the “continuation of bombings and bulldozing of homes and historic sites”.

The Israeli army has intensified its air and land operations in Lebanon in recent days, where it says it is targeting Hezbollah, which it wants to see disarmed. The movement refuses and opposes any talks between the Lebanese government and Israel.

– Une trêve, “passage obligé” –

And this, in the midst of negotiations between the United States and Iran, which demands to include the Lebanese front of the conflict in any agreement to end the war in the Middle East.

Since the start of hostilities, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed 3,371 people and displaced more than a million people, according to the authorities.

This week, Israel declared that it considered much of southern Lebanon a “combat zone.”

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli soldiers “crossed” on Friday the Litani, a river located around thirty kilometers from the border.

Hezbollah, for its part, claimed responsibility for rocket attacks towards northern Israel, and assured that it was engaged in fighting to prevent Israeli troops from taking control of the localities of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Yohmor al-Shaqif and Dibbine, near Nabatiyé, around which they continue, according to him, to maneuver.

For the first time since April 17, warning sirens were triggered in Karmiel and Safed, in northern Israel, according to the army.

Israeli public television Kan broadcast videos posted on social networks showing rockets falling into the sea on a beach in Nahariya, near the border, sowing panic among users.

The meeting of Israeli-Lebanese military officials on Friday, described as “constructive” by the Pentagon, will serve as “a basis for the political aspect” which must be addressed by the two countries on June 2 and 3, according to the Pentagon’s number two, Elbridge Colby.