ISRAELI air attacks killed at least 18 people in southern Lebanon on Saturday, the country’s Health Ministry has reported.

Lebanese authorities say the overall death toll caused by the intensified Israeli drive to clear and occupy the area stands at at least 2,020,with 6,436 wounded.

Israeli troops killed at least eight people in an attack on a village near the southern city of Sidon, the Health Ministry said. Nine others were wounded.

The ministry said that at least 10 people, including three emergency workers, were killed on Saturday during Israeli attacks in the Nabatieh district.

Fighting between Israeli forces and resistance group Hezbollah has intensified since Israel and the United States launched their illegal and unprovoked war on Iran at the end of February.

Israeli media reported that two Israeli soldiers had been wounded during fierce clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

The fighting takes place as Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, has rejected plans for direct peace talks between Lebanon and Israel this week.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office said on Friday that officials from his country, Israel and the US would meet in Washington “to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices.”

Hundreds of people gathered near the government headquarters in central Beirut on Saturday to protest against the talks with Israel.

Demonstrator Ruqaya Msheik said: “Whoever wants peace with Israel is not Lebanese. Those who shake hands with the enemy are zionists.”

Earlier, Hezbollah legislator Hassan Fadlallah described the proposal of talks with Israel as “a blatant violation of the national pact, the constitution and Lebanese laws.”

Israeli officials have repeatedly declared their intention to clear southern Lebanon of its population and to occupy the area. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any peace agreement reached with Lebanon must “last for generations” and include Hezbollah’s disarmament.