Israeli drones strike Lebanon despite US-brokered framework deal

Two people have been injured in an Israeli drone strike on a pick-up truck in southern Lebanon, according to state-run media, the latest attack despite a United States-brokered framework agreement intended to pave the way for a phased Israeli withdrawal.

The drone struck the vehicle as it was unloading garbage on the outskirts of the towns of Choukine and Kfar Dajjal in the Nabatieh district early on Friday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said.

Separate strikes also targeted a car in southern Lebanon and demolition operations shook the border town of Khiam overnight.

Later, NNA reported drones also targeted the towns of Kfar Reman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa. No casualties were reported.

The attacks came after Amnesty International called for war crimes investigations into three earlier Israeli strikes in March that killed 24 civilians, including 12 children.

The attacks hit homes in Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh districts on March 6, 12 and 13, killing six women, including a pregnant one, and six men. At least 18 people were wounded.

Amnesty said on Thursday that its investigation found grounds to conclude that Israeli forces violated international humanitarian law by striking civilians or civilian property, failing to distinguish between military and civilian targets, or failing to limit civilian harm.

“Within the space of just a week – the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for civilian lives. How many more families will have to pull the body parts of their children from the rubble before this devastating cycle of war crimes ends?” said Amnesty’s Kristine Beckerle.

“The international community must act now: States must impose an immediate comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and use universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute those responsible,” she said.

The group also warned that the latest US-brokered Israel-Lebanon agreement signed on June 26 could block accountability and urged Lebanon to grant the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory.

The deal does not force Israel to withdraw from the large area of southern Lebanon it continues to occupy, and Israel also appears to be signalling it will continue attacks it deems necessary.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said on Wednesday that the death toll from Israel’s attacks on the country had risen to 4,321, with 12,204 others injured since March 2.