Israel strikes southern Lebanon amid calls for halt to ‘endless war’

Strikes come as freed hostages and family members of people still held in Gaza urge Netanyahu to stop the fighting

Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes that hit Al-Rihan mountain, as seen from Marjayoun town, south Lebanon. File Picture: AP Photo/Hussein Malla

Israel carried out dozens of air and artillery strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday in its most intense aerial assault on Lebanon for four months, endangering the shaky truce that ended a year-long conflict against Hezbollah, as 40 survivors of Hamas captivity called on the Israeli government to halt the “endless war”.

The Israeli airstrikes came after three rockets from Lebanon were intercepted by Israeli air force, the first time in more than three months that groups in Lebanon have fired at Israel.