Lebanon accuses Israel of breaking the ceasefire after an attack on an army post

BEIRUT

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati accused Israel on Sunday of rejecting all efforts to reach a ceasefire with Lebanon, following an attack that killed one soldier and injured 18 others in southern Lebanon.

The army said the military casualties came after Israeli warplanes struck an army post in the town of Al-Amiriya early Sunday.

The Israeli attack “represents a direct bloody message rejecting all continued efforts and contacts to broker a ceasefire, strengthen the army’s presence in the south and implement UN Resolution 1701,” Mikati said in a statement.

“This direct aggression adds to a series of repeated attacks on the army and Lebanese civilians,” he added.

The US, Israel’s main ally, is mediating between Israel and Lebanon to reach a ceasefire to end over a year of attacks between Hezbollah and Israel.

“When Israel turned against a US-French call for a ceasefire in September, Israel is now writing down its refusal to any possible solution with Lebanese blood,” Mikati said.

Israel has escalated its airstrikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets, an escalation of years of warfare with the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.

According to Lebanese health authorities, more than 3,600 victims have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since October last year, with more than 15,300 injured and more than 1 million displaced since October last year.

Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground attack on southern Lebanon on October 1.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara

The Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Contact us for subscription options.