Iraq鈥檚 top Shiite cleric calls for end to Israeli 鈥榓ggression鈥� on Lebanon

A woman stands next to a billboard bearing a portrait of Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. (File/AFP)
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  • Sistani called for 鈥渢he exercise of every possible effort鈥� to end tensions

BAGHDAD: Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Shiite Islam鈥檚 highest authority in Iraq, appealed Monday for 鈥渆very possible effort鈥� to end Israeli 鈥渁ggression鈥� against Lebanon, where it is targeting the Shiite Hezbollah movement.
Sistani called for 鈥渢he exercise of every possible effort鈥� to end this 鈥渂arbaric aggression and to protect the Lebanese people.鈥�
Lebanon said 50 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in Israeli strikes on the south on Monday, the heaviest daily toll in nearly a year of cross-border clashes.
鈥淐ontinued Israeli enemy raids on southern towns and villages... killed 50 people and wounded more than 300, with children, women and emergency workers among the dead and wounded,鈥� a health ministry statement said, adding that the toll was provisional.

Dozens of Israeli air strikes hit Lebanon鈥檚 south and east Monday as Israel鈥檚 military warned Lebanese to move away from Hezbollah targets.