Israel pursuing ‘scorched earth’ policy, says Lebanon PM, as more airstrikes hit country’s south

Lead

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy" in southern Lebanon, urging a halt to the fighting as Israel carried out fresh airstrikes and issued evacuation warnings for more than a dozen locations. Salam's remarks came in a televised address, a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces had advanced deeper into Lebanon. Salam warned the country was facing a "dangerous" escalation and called for "a swift and real ceasefire."

Coverage Comparison

Across multiple reports, Salam's accusation and the ongoing military operations were consistently highlighted. France 24 and The Guardian both led with the prime minister's statement, framing the conflict as an escalation involving both sides. The Jerusalem Post provided an Israeli perspective, emphasizing the IDF's operation across the Litani River and the evacuation orders. The Hindu, reporting from a South Asian perspective, also focused on the accusations and included casualty figures from the Lebanese Health Ministry. A separate report from The Hindu added a regional dimension, quoting the US warning about its capability to resume war with Iran.

Key Claims

The central claim, reported by all five sources, is that Prime Minister Salam accused Israel of "scorched-earth policy and collective punishment," stating that Israel is "destroying towns and villages, and forcing their inhabitants into exile." He added that this would bring "neither security nor stability" to Israel.

According to multiple reports, Israel conducted fresh airstrikes and issued evacuation warnings covering villages near Nabatieh and in eastern Lebanon. The Israeli military also issued an evacuation order for all residents of southern Lebanon, specifically those south of the Zahleh River, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

A truce between Israel and Hezbollah, which officially took effect on April 17, has never been observed, according to several sources. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

Hezbollah said it launched multiple attacks targeting northern Israel on Saturday, as reported by France 24 and The Guardian.

The Lebanese Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,371 people since March 2, according to The Hindu. This figure has not been independently verified.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF crossed the Litani River and secured the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki areas, the first time in 26 years the ridge has been held by Israeli forces.

The United States warned on Saturday that it was "more than capable" of resuming its war with Iran, a statement reported by a single source, The Hindu.

Perspectives

Lebanese Government View: Prime Minister Salam frames Israel's actions as "collective punishment" and "scorched-earth," emphasizing the destruction of towns and displacement of civilians. He defends the US-brokered talks as "the least costly path" despite uncertain outcomes.

Israeli Military Perspective: The IDF's operations are presented as necessary measures against Hezbollah, with evacuation orders aimed at civilian safety. Crossing the Litani River is seen as a strategic achievement in securing the border area.

Hezbollah's Position: Hezbollah claims to be responding to Israeli violations of the truce, launching multiple attacks on northern Israel. The group vehemently opposes the direct talks between Israel and Lebanon.

US Role: Washington is facilitating military-to-military discussions and political negotiations, while also issuing warnings about Iran. The US statement after Friday's talks made no mention of the truce, indicating a focus on broader regional security.