Israeli army renews strikes on southern Lebanon after Iran truce

BEIRUT — Israel renewed its attacks on southern Lebanon on Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the US-Iran ceasefire agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz did not include Lebanon. The Israeli air strikes came despite Iran-backed Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel on March 2, not claiming any operations since 1 am. Israel renewed an evacuation order for an area near the southern city of Tyre, more than 40 kilometers inside Lebanon, saying “the battle in Lebanon is ongoing”. Hezbollah halted fire on northern Israel and on Israeli troops in Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday aspart of the US-Iran ‌ceasefire announced earlier, ‌sources ⁠close to the ⁠group told Reuters. Hezbollah is ⁠expected ⁠to issue a statement outlining its formal position on the ceasefire and on Netanyahu’s assertion that Lebanon is not included, the three Lebanese sources said. Israel’s military said it ‘continues fighting and ground operations’ in its war against the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Lebanon’s army warned people against returning to the country’s south on Wednesday, where the Israeli military is still launching attacks, as Israel said the ceasefire with Iran did not include its conflict with Hezbollah. “In light of regional developments and reports circulating about a ceasefire, (the army) urges citizens to wait before returning to southern villages and towns and to avoid approaching areas where Israeli occupation forces have advanced… since they may be exposing themselves to the ongoing Israeli attacks,” the Lebanese army said in a statement. An AFP correspondent in the Tyre region saw a small number of people heading south, from where hundreds of thousands have been displaced since Lebanon was drawn into the war on March 2. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Lebanon’s inclusion in the truce deal. At the start of a meeting ‌with defense advisers ‌and members ‌of ‌his cabinet on Wednesday, Macron said he welcomed ‌the ‌ceasefire, but added the situation ‌in Lebanon remained critical ⁠and ⁠called for Lebanon to be included in the deal.— Agencies