Israeli airstrikes kill 9 including Lebanese army officers after ceasefire deal

BEIRUT (AP) 鈥� Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed nine people including three members of the Lebanese military, the Lebanese army and state media said, days after the two sides

Lebanon鈥檚 President Joseph Aoun called the strike against its military a 鈥渇lagrant violation鈥� of the country’s sovereignty and international law during an 鈥渙ngoing escalation that threatens stability and security in the south.”

An airstrike on a vehicle on a road linking Nabatiyeh city with Marjayoun town killed a brigadier general, a captain and another soldier, the army said, without releasing their names. Another airstrike on Saksakiyah village killed six people and wounded four, the state-run National 海角社区app Agency said.

Lebanon’s army said the 鈥渃ontinued, deliberate, and repeated Israeli aggression鈥� aims to thwart efforts toward a solution “that would restore stability, establish a comprehensive ceasefire and lead to the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories.鈥�

The Israeli military confirmed hitting a vehicle and said it was 鈥渕oving suspiciously鈥� toward soldiers near Kfar Tibnit village, after the military received 鈥渃oncrete indications鈥� that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group would direct fire toward Israeli soldiers from the same area.

The military said it operates against Hezbollah and not against the Lebanese army.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military announced the deaths of two soldiers in southern Lebanon, without the dates they died.

The latest ceasefire, announced in Washington, came through between Israel and Lebanon鈥檚 government, which accuses Hezbollah of dragging the country into war and made efforts to disarm it before the latest hostilities. Hezbollah .

Israeli troops have seized around a fifth of Lebanon, pushing farther into the country鈥檚 south than at any time since the end of Israel鈥檚 1982-2000 occupation. More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, two days after Israel and the U.S. began attacking Iran.

Israel has since launched a ground invasion of Lebanon and carried out attacks that have displaced more than 1 million people. The fighting has killed at least 31 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.

On Friday, Aoun and Lebanon’s prime minister criticized Iran for opposing the , saying Tehran should not use their country as a 鈥渂argaining chip鈥� in its . Iran wants a ceasefire deal with the United States to include the situation in Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded Saturday on X, saying that after , 鈥渙ne would think it鈥檚 Iran that has occupied a fifth of Lebanon, displaced a quarter of Lebanese and is bombing his country on daily basis.鈥�

鈥淗ad Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we鈥檇 have a deal long ago. Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President,鈥� Araghchi added, in reference to Israel.