BEIRUT, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Eight journalists were injured Wednesday afternoon when Israeli airstrikes hit several villages and towns in southern Lebanon, according to local media, hours after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for the area.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Israeli warplanes struck more than seven buildings in the town of Qennarit and additional airstrikes destroyed two buildings in the towns of Jarjouaa and Kfour.
The journalists were wounded while covering the strikes, the local outlet Akhbar al-Yawm reported.
Other attacks were reported in the villages of Kharayeb and Ansar in southern Lebanon.
Before the strikes, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted maps on the social media platform X marking buildings and areas in Qennarit, Jarjouaa, Kfour, Kharayeb, and Ansar as targets.
"The Israel Defense Forces will, in the near future, attack military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah," Adraee said, citing what he described as attempts by the group to rebuild its presence in the area.
He urged residents of buildings marked in red, as well as nearby structures, to evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away, warning that staying in the area would put their lives at risk.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the reports of injured journalists.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States and France, took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, ending months of cross-border fighting linked to the war in Gaza.
Despite the agreement, Israel has continued to carry out occasional strikes in Lebanon, citing security threats from Hezbollah. Israeli troops have also remained at five positions along the Lebanese border after the deadline for a full withdrawal expired on Feb. 18. ■
