Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday accused Israel of deliberately destroying homes and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, asserting that these actions constitute a grave violation of international law.

Salam's statement comes amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating tensions in the region. The Prime Minister directly rejected Israeli claims that villages targeted by its forces were military sites, stating that such justifications are illogical and cannot excuse the displacement of residents and prevention of their return.

His remarks followed a visit by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz to southern Lebanon, where Katz stated that Israeli forces were "destroying the underground infrastructure" and "all the houses." Katz also indicated that Israeli troops would not withdraw from occupied zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza.

A United States State Department official, speaking to Al Jazeera, expressed that Washington "expects all parties to act in a manner consistent with the framework they agreed to," and noted Israel's stated lack of territorial ambitions in Lebanon.

The recent escalation includes Israeli strikes on the town of Mansouri on August 5, following accusations that Hezbollah violated a ceasefire, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers. This led to the first evacuation order for Mansouri in weeks, while another attack wounded one person and injured 11 others. A subsequent Israeli strike on August 6 hit a home in Burj al-Shemali.

Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the attack that killed the Israeli soldiers and has not made a public statement regarding the incident. The group's silence adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.

Lebanon became involved in hostilities on March 2 after Hezbollah launched attacks on northern Israel. A US-mediated ceasefire, intended to halt the fighting, commenced on April 17. However, Israeli forces have continued operations, occupying numerous villages in southern Lebanon without a clear timeline for withdrawal.

The continuing Israeli strikes and demolitions raise significant concerns about civilian safety and the long-term stability of the region, despite the existence of a conditional truce aimed at de-escalating the conflict.