Lebanon says 47 killed in strikes, Israel reports deaths of 4 soldiers
The violence is the worst since the signing of the US-Iran deal to halt the broader Middle East war, which was also expected to halt the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency also reported that Israel launched a new attack on the southern Jezzine region, just after a US official said on Friday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire.
An NNA correspondent also reported that drones were flying over the Tire region, while an AFP correspondent reported that continuous artillery bombardment could be heard in the southern town of Nabatieh.
The US official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the ceasefire was reached by US and Qatari mediators following talks with Israel and Iran.
A Gulf diplomat later confirmed that the ceasefire was brokered by Qatar, the United States and Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not respond to AFP’s request to confirm the ceasefire. Israeli military spokeswoman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said: “Anything related to the agreements belongs to the political echelon… We will continue to operate according to the directives”.
An earlier ceasefire, expected to come into effect in April, did little to stop attacks from both sides.
– ‘A dangerous climb’ –
At least 47 people, including seven women and two children, were killed and 97 people were injured in Israeli airstrikes and bombardments in Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
In the video published by AFPTV, hundreds of vehicles can be seen filling the roads in the city of Sidon as people try to escape from the southern regions.
The Israeli military reported “more than 150 IDF (military) attacks in Lebanon since midnight.”
It previously said it had “hit more than 80 command centers, terrorists, launch positions, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites in the Nabatieh area and other areas in Southern Lebanon.”
“Dozens of Hezbollah terrorists operating in command centers were neutralized.”
Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli forces around Nabatieh.
Israeli attacks also targeted Lebanon’s eastern Baalbek region, which has been largely protected since the conflict began in March.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israel’s latest attacks “constitute a dangerous escalation.”
The Israeli army had previously announced that Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon “fell in combat” along with three other soldiers.
Israeli military correspondents reported that four men were killed when a tank was hit by a “suspected drone or anti-tank missile.”
The army also reported that a reserve officer was seriously injured in the drone strike, while four other soldiers were slightly injured.
-‘Mothers should cry’-
The deaths of the soldiers drew great reaction in Israel.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said, “Lebanon must burn… For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, 1,000 Lebanese mothers must cry.”
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of wanting “permanent war”.
U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have expressed frustration with Israel’s campaign in Lebanon.
But Netanyahu said on Friday that Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary.”
“There is no problem if we are displaced once, twice or even 10 times, as long as we come back with our heads held high,” 57-year-old Hasan Tarhini, who had to flee the Nabatieh district, told AFP.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in early March by attacking Israel in revenge for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.
Israel responded with a massive airstrike and ground offensive.
