Israeli strikes kill 16 in southern Lebanon despite recent ceasefire agreement
Israeli forces bombed Nabatieh and surrounding villages, killing 16 and wounding 12, while Hezbollah launched over 50 projectiles, continuing hostilities after a ceasefire was announced.
Israeli airstrikes on the city of Nabatieh and nearby villages in southern Lebanon killed 16 people and injured 12, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense. The Israeli military said the attacks targeted Hezbollah positions after the group fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces.
The fighting persisted despite a ceasefire announced on Friday between Israel and Hezbollah, which had been intended to reduce violence that had already claimed at least 47 Lebanese lives and four Israeli soldiers that day.
The renewed clashes could affect the implementation of a separate agreement reached on Wednesday between the United States and Iran, which calls for a halt to military actions across all fronts. Iran has said that continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon undermine the spirit of that deal.
U.S. officials, including envoy Steve Witkoff, are pursuing diplomatic talks with Iran, with Witkoff traveling to Switzerland to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for planned negotiations.
"Israel is likely to continue military operations against Hezbollah," a U.S. intelligence assessment cited by the New York Times indicated, noting domestic pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following recent attacks in northern Israel.