Israeli Strikes Kill Roughly Two Dozen in Southern Lebanon, Less Than a Day After Ceasefire
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon are said to have left close to two dozen people dead, coming barely a day after the supposed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon are said to have left about 23 people dead. According to local authorities, 16 of the fatalities occurred in the Nabatieh district and another seven in the adjacent area of Saida, with additional people wounded, as Israeli fighter jets, drones, and artillery struck a number of different locations.
For its part, the Israeli military stated that it had hit positions belonging to Hezbollah fighters in response to the group launching more than 50 projectiles toward Israeli troops in the area.
The United States has voiced disapproval of Israel's continued campaign in Lebanon. Beyond that, American officials are worried that the persistent friction between Israel and Lebanon may jeopardize Washington's peace arrangement with Tehran, a deal that calls for a halt to combat across every front, Lebanon included.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly travelling to Switzerland for discussions with Iran aimed at solidifying the accord.
Although the agreement may have staved off a broader regional flare-up for now, it sidesteps the core points of contention that fuels the conflict, namely Israel's military footprint in southern Lebanon.
Hassan Fadlallah, a senior figure in Hezbollah, stated that his organisation was entitled to retaliate against Israeli assaults. Earlier ceasefires between the two sides have been breached by almost daily strikes across the border, with each party blaming the other for breaches.
Earlier Israel had declared it would not pull its troops out of Lebanon and maintained that its fight with Hezbollah was a separate matter from its conflict against Iran.
Due to this situation, Iran has responded by saying it's closing the Strait of Hormuz again.