14 wounded as Israel escalates military operation in southern Lebanon

At least 14 people, including hospital staff and a rescue worker, were wounded on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, prompting evacuations across large parts of the country's south.

According to Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center, an Israeli airstrike struck an area adjacent to Hiram Hospital in the southern city of Tyre, wounding 13 hospital staff members and causing extensive damage to the facility.

On Sunday, the Israeli military's spokesperson issued a warning on social media platform X, calling on all residents living south of the Zahrani River to evacuate immediately. 

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had taken control of the strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon. 

On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a videotaped statement that he had instructed the military to deepen and expand its grip on Lebanese areas held by Hezbollah.

Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said the cumulative toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 has reached 3,412 killed and 10,269 wounded.

Little progress in Lebanon-Israel talks

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect in April. Despite the truce, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israeli military positions.

Lebanese officials renewed calls for a ceasefire over the weekend as Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon intensified. 

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Sunday that Hezbollah is committed to a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire, calling for efforts to compel Israel to halt its military operations, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Saturday that Israel was implementing a "scorched-earth policy" in southern Lebanon, adding that Lebanon would continue diplomatic negotiations to secure a new ceasefire agreement.

However, talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations in Washington on May 29 failed to reach a ceasefire agreement. Mediated by the United States, the negotiations saw Lebanon repeatedly call for a ceasefire, while Israel refused to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory and maintained its demand for Hezbollah's disarmament.

Tian Wenlin, director of the Institute for Middle East Studies at Renmin University of China, said Israel's "scorched-earth policy" in southern Lebanon is aimed at creating a buffer zone. By turning the area into a depopulated zone, Israel aims to reduce potential security threats along its border, he said.

International concerns over Israeli escalation

Israel's escalating military operations in Southern Lebanon have drawn condemnation from multiple countries, with growing calls for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that there was no justification for the continued escalation in southern Lebanon and that the priority was for the United States and Iran to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on the same day expressed "great concern" over the further advance of the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, urging all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and return to an agreed ceasefire.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry also said the "blatant aggression" reveals premeditated Israeli intentions to impose a new military reality on the ground, in flagrant violation of international law, international norms and the UN Charter.

(With input from Xinhua)