At least 18 people were killed and 33 wounded in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, according to Lebanon's health ministry, which warned the toll was expected to rise. The Israeli military separately said four of its soldiers were killed in what it described as one of the deadliest single incidents since the current escalation.
The ministry said intensive airstrikes since midnight had hampered rescue and evacuation efforts. Residents and Lebanese media reported that airstrikes and shelling hit several towns in the Nabatieh district overnight and into early Friday, in what Lebanon's state news agency NNA described as one of the heaviest bombardments in recent weeks.
Israel said the strikes targeted Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure across several areas of southern Lebanon and were carried out in response to what it described as repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed an Israeli force advancing near Ali al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon, destroying three Merkava tanks with guided missiles and targeting troops with rocket and artillery fire, adding that clashes were continuing.
The escalation came a day after Israel published a map showing an expanded military control zone in southern Lebanon and said it would not rule out strikes beyond it, raising questions about the US-brokered agreement reached on Wednesday to end the US-Israeli war with Iran. That agreement calls for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and for respect for Lebanese territorial integrity and sovereignty.
A senior Israeli official said Israel was engaged in what he described as "stubborn negotiations" with the Trump administration over maintaining troops up to 10 kilometres inside southern Lebanon as it pursues Hezbollah. Israel has rejected calls to withdraw its forces from the south, while Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli positions, including with explosive drones that have killed and wounded troops this week.
Source: Reuters
