At least eight killed in Israeli drone strikes on highway south of Beirut

"Three Israeli drone strikes on cars on a major highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon have killed at least eight people, including two children, Lebanon's Ministry of Health reported. A photograph of the bombed cars shared by Lebanon's National News Agency following the attacks on Wednesday in the Jiyeh area, some 20km (12 miles) south of the Lebanese capital, showed the vehicles severely damaged, their exteriors charred and torn apart."

"Lebanon and Israel are expected to hold a new round of direct negotiations in Washington on Thursday, brokered by the United States. Hezbollah, which has been launching attacks on northern Israel and on Israeli troops who have entered and occupied a section of southern Lebanon, says it opposes the negotiations in the US."

"On Wednesday morning, the Israeli military issued forced displacement orders for the residents of Meiss el-Jabal, Yanouh, Burj Shemali, Hula, Debl and Aabbasiyyeh, warning that it will soon act against these six southern Lebanese villages forcefully. Anyone who remains endangers their life, the military said, warning residents to move at least 1,000 metres (0.6 miles) away to open areas."

"After this new round of forced displacement orders which have been happening almost daily in the past week Al Jazeera's Khodr said one of the few remaining hospitals in the area was in the displacement zone. There are only three left in the whole district of Tyre, and there are still people who live here. At least 100,000 people still"

Three Israeli drone strikes hit cars on a major highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon in the Jiyeh area, about 20 km south of the capital. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported at least eight deaths, including two children. Bombed vehicles were severely damaged, with charred and torn exteriors. The conflict continued to escalate and imposed a high toll on civilians in affected areas. Lebanon and Israel were expected to hold a new round of direct negotiations in Washington, brokered by the United States, while Hezbollah opposed the talks. The Israeli military issued forced displacement orders for residents of six southern Lebanese villages, warning that those who remain would endanger their lives and directing movement at least 1,000 metres to open areas. A hospital in the area was reported to be within the displacement zone, with only three hospitals left in the Tyre district and about 100,000 people still displaced.

Read at www.aljazeera.com