At least 35 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon despite a ceasefire that was meant to halt hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, Lebanese authorities and media reported on Saturday.
The Lebanese civil defence agency said 16 bodies had been recovered in the southern city of Nabatiyeh alone. The Health Ministry said at least seven people were killed and 13 injured in an airstrike on the town of Qennarit.
According to the state news agency NNA, four people were killed in strikes on Sohmor, three in Arabsalim, two in a drone strike on Rihan and one woman in the Tyre area.
The Lebanese army said two of its soldiers were also killed and accused Israel of undermining efforts to restore stability in the country through its continued attacks.
The Health Ministry said 83 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on Friday.
The casualty figures could not be independently verified.
The Israeli military accused Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, saying the group fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon overnight.
In response, Israeli forces struck Hezbollah rocket launchers, weapons depots and command centres to eliminate threats, the military said, adding that it would continue to act against any threat to Israel or its soldiers.
Hezbollah said it had responded to an advance by Israeli troops. The group said it remained committed to the ceasefire but would oppose any attempt to seize additional territory.
According to a US administration official, a ceasefire has been in effect since 4 pm local time (1300 GMT) on Friday. However, both sides accused each other of violating the truce within minutes of its implementation.
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has complicated negotiations between the United States and Iran. A bilateral framework agreement between Washington and Tehran calls for a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed, in a statement on Saturday, that its fighters on Friday night had foiled an infiltration attempt launched by the Israeli forces "under the cover of the ceasefire" towards the strategically important Ali al-Taher hill in Nabatiyeh.
Hezbollah said while it remains committed to the ceasefire, it "will not hesitate to confront any attempt by the enemy to seize land and expand its occupation."
Israeli army spokesman Effie Defrin told the Times of Israel that, despite the ceasefire with Hezbollah, troops have "full freedom of action" to respond to any threat in any area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously said Israel would not tolerate attacks on its soldiers or its territory.
