UPDATE - Israel launches over 20 airstrikes on southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

ADDS DETAILS

By Omar Alothmani and Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israeli warplanes carried out more than 20 airstrikes Saturday evening on areas in southern Lebanon despite Tel Aviv having agreed to a ceasefire.

"Israeli warplanes launched a wide-scale aerial assault on valleys and the outskirts of towns with more than 20 airstrikes,” according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

The agency has yet to report any casualties or property damage.

The agency reported that warplanes carried out two strikes on the Maris’a area, located between the towns of Al-Babliyah and Zrariyeh, as well as two more strikes on Wadi Al-Zaghareen.

It added that strikes also targeted the Berghoz area, causing a crater on the road leading to Western Bekaa, as well as Tebna Bissariyeh and Tefahta road, which was cut off due to the bombing.

The National News Agency said strikes also hit the outskirts of Beit Yahoun, Wadi Maryameen, Aita Al-Shaab forest, and Al-Hamdaniyah.

A fragile ceasefire, in place in Lebanon since Nov. 27, was supposed to end months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah, that escalated last September into a full-scale conflict.

But Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 1,100 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the deaths of at least 84 people and injuries to more than 280.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.