Israel steps up Lebanon attacks with strikes that kill 15
Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit several towns in the Nabatieh district overnight and early Friday, residents and local media said, in what NNA said was some of the heaviest shelling in recent weeks.
The Israeli military said it struck groups it identified as Hezbollah militants and infrastructure in several areas in the south in response to the Iran-backed group’s repeated violations of the ceasefire.
The escalation came a day after Israel published a map showing an expanded zone of military control in southern Lebanon and said it would not rule out attacks beyond that, raising questions about the interim peace deal the United States signed with Iran on Wednesday.
The agreement calls for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and for parties to respect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Israel is engaged in “stubborn negotiations” with the administration of US President Donald Trump over the deployment of its troops within 10 km (6.2 miles) of southern Lebanon as they pursue Hezbollah, a senior Israeli official said.
Israel has rejected calls to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli positions, some using explosive drones that have killed and wounded soldiers this week.
