Israeli forces killed 22 people in southern Lebanon as residents attempted to return to their homes, Lebanese authorities said on Tuesday.
The deaths occurred during a daytime operation in which Israeli troops crossed into Lebanon, sparking widespread clashes and resulting in the highest death toll in the region since the beginning of the year.
Lebanese army sources said that the Israelis had entered the region in two sites, with one group of soldiers moving into the town of Deir Qanoun, located in the coastal region, while the other group targeted the village of Habro, in the Bekaa Valley.
The region is a frequent flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has been closely allied with Iran.
The violence began early in the morning, with Lebanese authorities reporting that the government had released a statement of “deep concern” over the latest development and was working to address the situation, while also calling on the international community to help “prevent any escalation of the conflict”.
The Lebanese government has accused Israel of conducting a clear violation of the United Nations Convention against it, while Israeli authorities have not made any official statement on the matter.
According to local reports, many of the casualties were civilians, as well as some Lebanese military personnel, and the incident has raised concerns about the level of violence and potential widening conflict between the countries.