Lebanon president says Israeli strikes send 'clear message' on negotiations

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday were a “clear message” on negotiations between the two countries, ahead of the next round of US-sponsored talks early next month in Rome.

Aoun condemned the “ongoing Israeli attacks” on the south and “repeated violations of the framework agreement… and international law on protecting civilians, which led to the death of an entire family in the village of Ansar”, according to a statement from his office, adding that “these violations are a clear message on the negotiation process”.

At least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanon’s state news agency said.

Seven people were killed when Israeli warplanes struck a house in the southern village of Ansar, while two others were killed in a strike on the village of Deir El Zahrani, the National News Agency said.

The strikes are among the deadliest in the weeks since Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-mediated peace framework with Israel. The deal leaves Israeli troops inside occupied southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed and the Lebanese army takes control, terms the Iran-backed group has rejected as surrender.

At least 4,300 people have been killed in Lebanon in the latest round of hostilities since March 2.