The Israeli army today opened fire on southern Lebanon residents trying to return to their villages by hundreds, killing 22 people and injuring 124 according to a new report by the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

According to the ministry, “Israeli enemy attacks on citizens trying to return to their villages who were still under occupation left 15 dead, including a soldier of the Lebanese army and two women, as well as dozens of injuries.” The ministry had reported 11 deaths and 83 injured in a previous report.

According to the Israeli army, Israeli soldiers today threw warning shots in many areas of the southern Lebanese after identifying threats that were approaching suspects. The army made the announcement after information about the dead by Israeli fire, stressing that many suspects, allegedly pose an immediate threat to the troops, were arrested and interrogated.

The announcement, however, does not specify which part of the southern Lebanese were fired or if there are victims.

Israel has said that it intends to maintain troops in the south beyond today’s deadline, provided for by the ceasefire agreement achieved by US mediation and stopped the war with Hezbollah last year, and ordered residents not to return.

The agreement predicted that the Israeli forces would leave southern Lebanon as weapons and fighters of Iran Hezbollah supported would be removed from the area, and the Lebanese army would grow there, within a period of 60 days.

Israel, however, has said that the Lebanese state has not fully imposed the terms of the agreement, while the US -backed US army accused Israel yesterday of delaying its departure.

“Still not appropriate” Conditions for the safe return of Lebanese citizens to southern Lebanon, refer to today’s common communication of the senior official of the United Nations to Lebanon and the head of the organization’s peacekeeping mission to the country.

The announcement states that the deadline provided for by the agreement was not complied with and both Israel and Lebanon are called upon to resume.

Hezbollah’s television network Al Manar, which broadcast from many parts to the south, showed footage with residents moving to their villages defying Israeli orders, with some holding flags and photos of Hezbollah fighters killed in war.

Hezbollah, who suffered major blows from Israel during the war, has said that it is the responsibility of the Lebanese state to ensure Israel’s departure, describing Israel’s non -timely withdrawal of the agreement.

The White House said on Friday that a short, temporary prolongation of the ceasefire was needed.

Lebanese President Joseph Aun, who was in charge of the US -backed Lebanese army until his election by parliament on January 9, called on the residents of the South to show restraint and confidence in the Lebanese army.

Israel has not said how much its forces will remain in the south, where the Israeli army says it seizes weapons and dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure.

The Hezbollah-Israel War waged alongside the Gaza war and culminated in a large Israeli attack on Hezbollah, which uprooted more than a million people in Lebanon and brought about very severe blows to the organization.