Israel’s military said it continues to carry out strikes against Hezbollah members and infrastructure in southern Lebanon, even as a recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding calls for a halt to hostilities in the region.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it had conducted multiple air and ground attacks overnight, targeting what it described as Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. It said the operations were in response to “repeated violations of the ceasefire” by the militant group.
The developments come amid heightened regional sensitivity following diplomatic efforts led by Washington and Tehran to de-escalate broader Middle East tensions.
Casualties reported in Lebanon
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Israeli strikes in the Nabatieh district resulted in at least 16 deaths, with several others reported injured or missing. Emergency teams were continuing search and rescue operations in affected areas.
Lebanese authorities have not independently confirmed the full extent of the damage, but local reports described widespread destruction in multiple villages.
Ceasefire efforts under strain
The escalation raises fresh questions over the durability of ongoing ceasefire arrangements linked to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which reportedly aims to reduce regional hostilities and stabilize maritime and security conditions.
While the agreement has been welcomed internationally, implementation remains uneven, with multiple actors continuing military operations on the ground.
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 15 people on Friday, according to Lebanon’s state National News Agency (NNA), as cross-border violence with Hezbollah intensified despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.
Residents and local media reported that Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit several towns in the Nabatieh district overnight and into early Friday, in what NNA described as one of the heaviest bombardments in recent weeks.
The Israeli military said it carried out attacks targeting Hezbollah militants and infrastructure across multiple locations in southern Lebanon. It said the operations were a response to what it called repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group.
According to Lebanese officials and domestic media reports, the overnight bombardment continued into Friday morning, causing significant damage in several civilian areas.
Emergency teams were deployed across affected regions as rescue operations continued in areas hit by airstrikes and shelling.
