The Israeli flag has flown over Fort Beaufort in southern Lebanon since the weekend. Despite a partial ceasefire agreement, fighting is continuing between the Israeli military and the Iran-aligned Shiite Hezbollah militia — which is designated as a terror organization by the United States, Germany and several Sunni Arab governments — in southern Lebanon.
A trip to Lebanon by German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan was cut short at the last minute because of the deteriorating security situation.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had ordered strikes on "terror targets" in what they said was a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli government claimed that the strikes were in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile,Iran said Israel's actions were delaying the possibility of a ceasefire agreement with the US. Media outlets reported that people were once again fleeing the southern suburbs of Beirut; Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the "brutal Israeli aggression."
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 3,400 people have been killed since March 2, while on the Israeli side, 24 soldiers and four civilians have been killed, according to the military.
