Israeli occupation forces have launched a series of air and artillery attacks on several areas of southern Lebanon, with Lebanese state media reporting the use of phosphorus shells.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli artillery fire struck the outskirts of Mansouri, the area around Bayt al-Sayyad and the outskirts of Majdal Zoun early Saturday.
It also reported extensive explosions in the three areas overnight.
Bayt al-Sayyad sustained particularly heavy damage, with NNA reporting that homes across the town had been extensively destroyed and that no house remained undamaged.
The attacks also affected Hadatha, Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal, where explosions were reported overnight.
Machine-gun fire was directed toward nearby valleys, while Israeli drones continued flying over towns and villages in western and central parts of southern Lebanon, according to the agency.
In a separate development, Israeli warplanes carried out two strikes at around 6:45 a.m. local time (0345 GMT) on Ali al-Taher hill, north of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, NNA reported.
The agency also said Israeli artillery shelled areas around Dawhat Kfar Remman and Dabsha hill, as well as a wooded area near Ali al-Taher, throughout the night and into the early hours of Saturday, adding that the shelling included phosphorus munitions.
White phosphorus attacks put civilians at grave risk and cause intensely painful injuries including necrosis, acute lung injuries, severe eye damage, and second- or third-degree burns.
The use of such weapons against civilian areas constitutes a clear violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions. The international community has remained largely silent on these violations.
The latest attacks come despite the existence of a US-brokered framework agreement signed in June that ostensibly calls for Israel’s gradual withdrawal and a cessation of hostilities.
Instead of enforcing the agreement, the United States has been applying pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, effectively siding with Israeli demands and allowing the occupation forces a free hand to continue their systematic destruction of southern Lebanon.
The framework agreement itself is deeply flawed, imposing obligations on Lebanon, such as the disarmament of Hezbollah and refraining from international legal action against Israel, while offering Israel no meaningful commitments.
Israel has exploited this imbalance, continuing its attacks and even expanding its occupation of Lebanese territory.
Despite the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces now occupy several parts of southern Lebanon, some held for decades, and have advanced more than ten kilometers into Lebanese territory in recent years.
