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Key Points
- Israeli artillery and airstrikes hit areas in south Lebanon late on Saturday.
- The attack came after Israel said it had intercepted rockets fired from across the border.
- Hezbollah denied responsibility for Saturday’s strikes, saying it had ‘no link’ to the rocket launches.
Two waves of Israeli strikes killed three people in Bint Jbeil and Touline, as well as five in the port city of Tyre, all in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state news agency, which cited health authorities.
“We expect Lebanon to take care of its part of the agreement,” Ophir Falk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, said.
Israel has carried out repeated air strikes during the ceasefire, targeting what it said were Hezbollah military sites that violated the agreement.
There were no reports of casualties in Israel.
An Israeli airstrike on the city of Rafah, which abuts Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, killed two Palestinians, Gazan medics said. Israel’s military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
UN alarmed by ‘volatile’ situation
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said it was alarmed at the possible escalation of violence and urged all parties to avoid jeopardising the progress made, saying further escalation could have serious consequences for the region.
Israel says Hezbollah still has military infrastructure in the south. Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel is occupying Lebanese land by continuing to carry out some airstrikes and keeping its troops at five hilltop positions near the frontier.