Lebanese Prime Minister: Israel Pursuing a ‘Scorched Earth’ Policy in Southern Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of carrying out the systematic destruction of towns and villages and forcing civilians to flee their homes in southern Lebanon, saying that Israel is pursuing a “scorched earth” policy through its continued military operations in the area. Salam said the intensification of Israeli airstrikes would bring neither security nor stability, but would instead deepen the crisis and increase the suffering of civilians. According to reports, at least 16 people have been killed in fighting and airstrikes over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, a new round of U.S.-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel is scheduled to take place in Washington next week, with the aim of reducing tensions and preventing a wider escalation of the conflict. On the other side, the Israeli military said Hezbollah fired more than 20 projectiles toward Israel on Saturday. Footage broadcast by Israeli television showed several rockets landing in the sea near the northern coastal city of Nahariya, prompting people on the beach to leave the area. Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border continue to rise, fueling concerns that the hostilities could expand into a broader regional conflict.