Israeli forces kill 15 in south Lebanon on pullout deadline

Burj al Muluk, Lebanon: Israeli army fire killed 15 people in south Lebanon on Sunday including a soldier, health officials said, as residents tried to return home on the day Israel was meant to withdraw under a truce deal.

The withdrawal deadline is part of a ceasefire agreement reached two months ago that ended Israel's war with Hezbollah.

The deal that took effect on November 27 said the Lebanese army was to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day period that ends on Sunday.

Lebanon's health ministry said on Sunday that Israeli forces opened fire on "citizens who were trying to return to their villages that are still under (Israeli) occupation".

It said 14 residents and a soldier were killed and dozens more wounded. The Lebanese army also announced the soldier's death and said another had been wounded.