Lebanon Strikes Kill Four as Israeli Attacks Continue Despite US-Iran Agreement
Israeli air strikes and drone attacks continued in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least four people and wounding others despite a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the war on all fronts including Lebanon. The ongoing Lebanon strikes targeted multiple towns in the Nabatieh district. [1]
Ongoing Israeli Strikes Despite US-Iran Deal
Israeli strikes targeted Nabatieh district towns including Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kfar Tebnit, Mayfadoun and Choukine, with drone strikes on vehicles killing four and additional shelling reported. On Wednesday, Israeli jets struck the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area and the outskirts of neighbouring Kfar Tebnit. [5] Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out an air strike on the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district and launched raids on the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa while shelling the Ali al-Taher heights and the outskirts of the town. [1] A day earlier, Israeli attacks killed at least four people in Nabatieh, including in drone strikes on several vehicles. An Israeli drone struck two cars in the town of Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh district, and a third vehicle was hit in nearby Choukine. [2] Israeli drones carried out three attacks in Tyre that resulted in injuries while a drone also targeted the Bint Jbeil district. [1] Other Israeli attacks were reported in Ansariyeh in Sidon district and Kfar Tebnit in Nabatieh district, while artillery shelling hit the Ali al-Taher hills and areas around Nabatieh al-Fawqa. [2] Hezbollah fighters launched at least 10 rockets towards Israeli forces near Kfar Tebnit. [1] Attacks included artillery shelling, drone strikes as well as Israeli ground incursion involving military vehicles and bulldozers. [3]
Iran's Warnings and View of the Agreement
Iran accused Israel of violating the ceasefire 84 times in two days and warned of a harsh response, stating that continued strikes and occupation of Lebanese territory violate the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Iran warned Israel of a harsh response on Wednesday after accusing it of violating the Lebanon ceasefire 84 times since a US-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the illegal US-Israeli war against Iran was agreed. [4] Iran said the Israeli military has violated the ceasefire in Lebanon 84 times in the past two days and warned that Israel should expect a harsh response if it does not stop its attacks. [1] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Lebanese territory is one of the core demands right now to move forward with the framework agreement Iran has with the US. [1] The situation in Lebanon is one of the main pillars of the US-Iran agreement. [1] The Iranians say the situation in Lebanon, in particular southern Lebanon, is an integral part of the memorandum of understanding. [1] Lebanon was among the top priorities for the Iranians when they started negotiations with US President Donald Trump’s administration. [1]
Israeli strikes continue in southern Lebanon despite US-Iran agreement. — Source: thenewarab
Trump's Public Criticism of Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Israel should not destroy entire apartment buildings to target individual Hezbollah fighters and that the campaign had gone on too long. Speaking at the G7 summit in Evian, France, on Tuesday, Trump said too many people had been killed and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act more responsibly in Lebanon. [2] Trump said Israel had been fighting Hezbollah for too long and too many people are being killed. [5] Trump told the G7 that he had a great relationship with Netanyahu but said he didn't like that he did an attack that was too much. [5] Trump publicly criticised Israel's bombing of residential buildings in Lebanon, saying apartment blocks should not be destroyed to target individual Hezbollah fighters. [2] Trump said you don't have to destroy an apartment building every time you're looking for someone, because there are a lot of people in those apartment buildings, and they're not all Hezbollah. [2]
Israeli Leaders Rule Out Withdrawal
Israeli officials including Netanyahu, Katz and Smotrich rejected immediate withdrawal from southern Lebanon, stating forces would remain as long as deemed necessary. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, either before the expected signing of the memorandum on Friday or afterwards. [2] Netanyahu said on Monday that his country's forces would remain in Lebanon for as long as necessary. [5] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz also ruled out an immediate withdrawal from areas occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, saying the military presence would continue for as long as Israel deemed necessary. [2] The military campaign in Lebanon will continue without concessions, and there will be no withdrawal from southern Lebanon, neither on Friday nor after Friday. [2]
Decline in Violence and Persistent Concerns
UN data showed a decline in cross-border fire to 174 projectiles on Sunday from 705 the prior week, with 169 attributed to Israel and five to Hezbollah. United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the number of projectiles fired between Israeli forces and Lebanon fell to 174 on Sunday, compared with 705 the previous Sunday. [1] Of these, 169 were attributed to Israel and five to Hezbollah. [1] There has been a reduction in violence since the US-Iran agreement was announced, but attacks have not stopped. [1] Security sources believe that the Israeli army is trying to occupy more ground, especially strategic high ground around Nabatieh. [1] Families have started to return to their villages, but people are worried and say they don’t trust that Israel will abide by the ceasefire. [1]
Amnesty International Accusation of War Crimes
Amnesty International stated that Israeli mass forced displacement orders and creation of no-go zones amounting to 6 percent of Lebanon constitute unlawful transfer and war crimes. The human rights group Amnesty International said on Wednesday that the Israeli army’s mass forced displacement orders in Lebanon amount to war crimes under international law. [1] In parts of southern Lebanon, the Israeli military’s forced displacement of civilians and prevention of their return amounts to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime. [1] The Israeli army has radically expanded its use of such orders, displacing hundreds of thousands of people across Lebanon. [1] Instead of forcibly uprooting communities and designating entire swathes of Lebanese land as no-go zones for civilians, Israeli forces must immediately withdraw from Lebanese territory, said Kristine Beckerle, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. [1] The Israeli military declared about 4.6 percent of Lebanon as a no-go zone on November 28, 2024, a day after a previous ceasefire took effect. [1] This year, just three days after an April 17 ceasefire announcement, the restricted area was expanded to about 6 percent of the country, and residents were ordered not to return to villages previously home to tens of thousands of civilians. [1] Lebanese officials said Israel, which has been carrying out a large-scale offensive in the country since March 2, has killed more than 3,800 people, wounded 11,850 and displaced more than one million. [1] Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll from Israel's assault on Lebanon since 2 March had risen to 3,826 killed and 11,851 wounded. [2]
What to watch next: Both sides were expected to sign the deal on Friday in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, and Trump said he would likely hold a news conference to publicly read the agreement between the US and Iran word by word.
