‘No red line’: South Lebanon residents outraged as Israel resumes strikes

People in southern Lebanon question their government’s approach as Israel launches more attacks and displacement orders.As Israel resumes strikes and issues forced displacement orders in southern Lebanon, residents of the region are expressing anger and helplessness during ongoing talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials.For displaced families, the latest round of strikes on Thursday, which injured at least eight people, is further evidence that the June “ceasefire” has failed to protect them from Israeli military action. The Israeli military sparked the latest wave of panic by issuing a forced evacuation order for the town of al-Mansouri on Wednesday, marking its first displacement directive in weeks.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3WHO chief: Ebola outbreak in DRC spreading at ‘unprecedented rate’list 2 of 3Toronto police arrest two in US Consulate shooting investigationlist 3 of 3Trump signs new executive orders seeking to limit US birthright citizenshipend of list“Mansouri is not part of Israel’s occupation zone,” Yousef Shehemi, mayor of the neighbouring town of Majdal Zoun, told Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr. “But Israel has no red lines – they target where they want. They have not respected any ceasefire.”Families from al-Mansouri who fled were still gathered on the outskirts of the town on Thursday, waiting for word that it was safe to return.Outrage was mounting on the ground as residents watched the Israeli military demolish homes and set fire to farmland, with many expressing little faith that ongoing negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials will secure their safe return.Abu Rached, a resident of Majdal Zoun, said the destruction had gone unanswered by Lebanese officials. “Can’t you see what they did to Lebanon" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="6544" data-entity-type="location">South Lebanon? They’re destroying it, displacing people – even the [Lebanese] army can’t stay in al-Mansouri,” he told Al Jazeera. “Where are the officials?”