Israel hits Lebanon despite renewed Trump criticism

Beirut: Israeli forces have reportedly launched fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon, despite renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump regarding Israel’s military actions there, according to the BBC.

On Wednesday, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the Nabatieh al-Fawqa region and areas surrounding the nearby town of Kfar Tebnit. The Israeli military has not commented on the strikes, although it has previously ssaid its operations are aimed at the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Trump has criticised Israel for continuing to strike Hezbollah targets ahead of the formal signing of a US-Iran deal in Switzerland on Friday. He said Israel didn't need to knock down an apartment block every time it was looking for someone from Hezbollah. Lebanese media reported at least four deaths. 

On Tuesday, Trump said Israeli PM Benjamin Netan­yahu should act “more respo­n­sibly with respect to Leba­non.” At the G7 meet, Trump also remarked Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah had continued for too long and was resulting in excessive loss of life.

Trump told G7 leaders though he maintained a strong relationship with Netanyahu, he believed a recent Israeli attack had gone too far. He said, “I didn’t like that he did an attack… that was too much.”

Trump emphasised US support for Israel, saying, “Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did.” —Agencies