11 Wounded as Israel Attacks House in South Lebanon’s Tyre District

French FM in Lebanon to push for deal to prevent further escalation

Israel continued to attack targets across southern Lebanon, going after a house in Srebbine, in the Tyre District overnight. At least 11 civilians were wounded, including two identified as Syrian refugees.

Israel was also heavily shelling towns and villages across the south, while launching missile strikes against the towns of Harfa and Maroun al-Ras. Airstrikes were also reported targeting Hanin.

Hezbollah, for its part, fired missiles at Upper Galilee and launched dozens of rockets against the Meron Air Base. Reports in the press were that a major radar site was hit on the base, and some damage was sustained.

Cross-border fighting was in general on the rise on Sunday, despite the arrival of French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne. Sejourne was in Beirut today to push proposals aimed at avoiding a war between Lebanon and Israel.

France has been actively making proposals for a deal that would move Hezbollah north away from the border and prevent Israel from striking cross border targets. The proposals are expected to be reviewed, and a new proposal on offer during Sejourne’s visit.

Hezbollah has expressed openness to a deal but insists any cessation of firing must come with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. There were high hopes for this initially, but months have gone by with no signs of a truce.

Lebanon faces growing problems in both the south and east, however, as the volume of cross border attacks is reported to have doubled since April 13.

The violence all comes a day after Israeli cross border attacks killed at least three people. Two of those killed were believed to be members of Hezbollah, though the details surrounding who they are or what they did is not certain.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.