Lebanon Strikes Kill 16 as Central Bank Condemns Attack on Nabatieh Branch
Lebanon strikes killed 16 people in the Nabatieh area on Saturday despite a newly announced ceasefire, while the country's central bank condemned a direct attack on one of its branches in the southern city. [2]
Israeli Strikes Kill 16 in Nabatieh
Lebanese state media reported Israeli air raids on around 20 locations in the Nabatieh region on Saturday. [2] The country's civil defence agency confirmed that 16 people were killed in the Nabatieh area. [2] An AFP photographer saw smoke rising over the city after the strikes. [2] These Lebanon strikes occurred even as a ceasefire had been announced the previous day. [2] The raids targeted multiple sites across the region where Israel has intensified its actions. [2]
Central Bank Condemns Attack on Its Branch
Lebanon's central bank condemned a direct and deliberate Israeli strike on one of its branches in Nabatieh. [2] The bank stated that Israeli forces directly targeted a branch of the Bank of Lebanon in Nabatieh. [2] It described the action as a deliberate attack against an official building that is inseparable from Lebanese state institutions. [2] The building was empty at the time of the strike and sustained only material damage. [2] The central bank called on the United States and its allies to guarantee the protection of civilians and Lebanese official institutions. [2]
Hezbollah Reports Clashes With Israeli Forces
Hezbollah said its fighters confronted Israeli forces overnight as they attempted to infiltrate toward strategic hills overlooking Nabatieh. [2] The group reported that these confrontations took place in the Nabatieh region. [2] Hezbollah had pulled Lebanon into the conflict in early March when it fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. [2] The overnight clashes added to the pattern of continued fighting in the area. [2]
Ceasefire Violated Days After Announcement
A new ceasefire announcement was made on Friday as part of a memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington. [2] Despite this announcement, Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have continued to clash in the Nabatieh region. [2] The central bank noted that Israel has intensified its strikes despite the ceasefire. [2] Hezbollah's entry into the conflict followed the killing of Iran's supreme leader. [2] The ongoing Lebanon strikes illustrate the challenges in maintaining the truce reached through the memorandum. [1]
US-Iran Talks Proceed in Switzerland
US Vice President JD Vance heads to Switzerland for high-level talks with Iran, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. [1] Iran’s delegation has arrived in Switzerland and says its main goal is to ensure all parties fully implement the interim deal to end the war. [1] These diplomatic efforts in Switzerland run parallel to the developments in Lebanon. [1] The talks aim to advance implementation of the interim deal tied to the recent memorandum of understanding. [1]
What to watch next: Observers will monitor whether the US-Iran talks in Switzerland produce further steps toward implementing the interim deal and whether the ceasefire in Lebanon holds amid continued clashes in Nabatieh.
