BEIRUT, May 31, (V7N) – Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” in southern Lebanon, as Israeli airstrikes intensified and evacuation warnings were issued for more than a dozen areas.
In a televised address, Salam warned that the situation in southern Lebanon was becoming increasingly “dangerous” and called for “a swift and real ceasefire” to end the violence.
He accused Israel of carrying out “collective punishment” by destroying towns and villages and forcing residents to flee their homes.
“This will bring neither security nor stability to Israel,” Salam said.
His remarks came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli troops had advanced deeper into Lebanese territory beyond the Litani River, around 30 kilometres north of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Despite the escalation, Salam defended ongoing diplomatic engagement with Israel following security talks held in Washington on Friday between military delegations from both countries. Additional US-mediated negotiations are expected next week.
Although Salam acknowledged that the outcome of the talks was “not guaranteed,” he described negotiations as “the least costly path for our country and our people.”
A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group officially took effect on April 17, but both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported several Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon on Saturday. The Lebanese army also said two soldiers were seriously wounded in an Israeli drone strike near Nabatieh.
The Israeli military meanwhile issued new evacuation warnings for several villages near Nabatieh and eastern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said it launched multiple attacks on northern Israel and claimed its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli forces near several southern Lebanese towns, including Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Yohmor al-Shaqif and Dibbine.
According to the Israeli military, more than 25 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel on Saturday. Air raid sirens sounded in cities including Karmiel and Safed for the first time since the ceasefire began.
Israeli media footage also showed rockets landing in the sea near the coastal city of Nahariya, prompting beachgoers to flee the area.
The Lebanese health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,371 people since March 2, when Hezbollah intensified its involvement in the regional conflict in support of Iran.
Iran has repeatedly stated that any agreement aimed at ending the broader Middle East conflict must also include a resolution to the fighting in Lebanon.
