3 killed in southern Lebanon as authorities warn of Israeli cluster bombs, landmines
Three people were reported killed in southern Lebanon on Monday as several areas came under Israeli artillery and heavy machine-gun fire amid Lebanese warnings to residents against entering olive groves over fears of cluster bombs and landmines. Lebanon’s official news agency NNA said a man was killed in the town of Yater in Bint Jbeil district by Israeli artillery fire, while another was killed in Froun in the same district when a landmine exploded as he inspected his olive grove. In the town of Ain Ebel, also in Bint Jbeil, an Internal Security Forces member was killed when a suspected war remnant exploded as he worked in an agricultural field on the town’s outskirts, the agency said. Artillery shelling overnight targeted the Al-Araish area in Haris, Wadi al-Salouqi, and the outskirts of Shaqra, Kfar Tebnit and Wadi Zibqin in the country’s south, NNA said. Israeli forces also opened heavy machine-gun fire toward an area between Kfar Tebnit and Zawtar al-Sharqiya, as well as Wadi al-Hujeir toward the town of Ghandourieh in Nabatieh province, the agency said. Artillery fire also targeted Mansouri in Tyre district as well as valleys near Beit Lif and Srebbine in Bint Jbeil. Separately, local authorities in the towns of Froun and Yater warned residents against entering olive groves before consulting the relevant authorities because of the possible presence of cluster bombs and landmines left by previous Israeli attacks. The developments come amid continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, which have killed 4,386 people and injured 12,413 others, according to Lebanese authorities. On June 26, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework agreement providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in those areas. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued attacks on southern Lebanon and remains in control of areas there, some occupied for decades and others seized during recent wars and military operations.