Boy killed by unexploded ordnance in southern Lebanon

BEIRUT, April 17 (YPA) –A boy was killed and another injured on Friday when unexploded ordnance left behind by Israeli forces detonated in the town of Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon, as Israeli forces carried out several violations of a ceasefire agreement that took effect at midnight.

The Lebanese Army urged residents to delay returning to southern areas amid reported Israeli breaches of the truce, including intermittent shelling and attacks on several villages.

Israeli shelling targeted the southern Lebanese towns of Khiam and Debbine minutes after a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon entered into force at midnight local time Friday, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.

Around 30 minutes after the truce took effect, the agency reported the “continuation of hostile shelling” on the two towns.

It also reported intensive Israeli drone flights over Rashaya and the western slopes of Mount Hermon in southeastern Lebanon.

Minutes before the ceasefire came into effect, Israeli warplanes launched a series of heavy airstrikes across multiple areas in Lebanon, killing 10 people and injuring five others in the southern towns of Tyre, Ansariyeh and Jbaa, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

The ceasefire took effect after midnight on Friday, following 46 consecutive days of Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump announced the agreement on Thursday, stating that “Israel” and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day truce.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that 2,196 people have been killed and 7,185 wounded since March 2 as a result of the Israeli aggression.

@E.Y.M