JERUSALEM: Israel's military resumed strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday despite ongoing talks, blaming a ceasefire violation by Hezbollah as Beirut said at least one person was killed.
The fresh strikes and a first evacuation warning in weeks came as Lebanon and Israel were holding US-sponsored talks in Rome aimed at putting an end to hostilities, with Beirut seeking Israel's phased withdrawal from the south.
"In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement, shortly after telling residents to evacuate the town of Mansouri in the south.
Lebanese state media said one person died and 11 were wounded in a separate strike.
At US-sponsored talks in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon's south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as "pilot zones".
This week's negotiations, which are scheduled to run until Thursday, are the seventh round of Washington-mediated talks since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel.
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