Israel kills Lebanese mayor, 15 others during official meeting

BEIRUT (AA) – At least sixteen people have been killed and more than 50 injured in Israeli airstrikes in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said.

The casualties include Ahmed Kheil, the mayor of the municipality.

A ministry statement said that efforts were underway to search for survivors under the rubble.

The state news agency NNA said at least 10 airstrikes were launched by Israeli warplanes on Nabatieh this morning.

Other strikes were reported in Lower Nabatieh, Khiyam, Adaisseh, and Markaba in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned international silence to Israeli attacks against Lebanon.

“All countries of the world are unable to deter a clear aggression against the Lebanese people,” he said.

“Is it still useful to resort to the UN Security Council to demand a cease-fire?” he questioned.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the Israeli army had carried out a series of violent airstrikes on several towns and regions in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing at least 23 people and injuring 31 others.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets since September 23, killing more than 1,500 people and displacing more than 1 million.

The aerial campaign is an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of its offensive on the Gaza Strip, in which Israel has killed nearly 42,400 people, most of them women and children,

Israel expanded the conflict on October 1 by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon in the face of global criticism which has proven to be completely ineffective in stopping Israeli aggression.