Israeli airstrikes continue to hit southern Lebanon despite framework deal

The Israeli army launched airstrikes early Sunday on several areas in southern Lebanon amid Tel Aviv’s continued violations of a US-brokered framework agreement signed in June, Anadolu reports.

The attacks targeted several towns in Tyre, Nabatieh, Marjayoun and Bint Jbeil, including Mansouri, Wadi Zibqin, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kfar Tibnit, Mayfadoun, Kafr Rumman, Mazraat al-Shomeriya, Al-Qusayr, Beit Yahoun, Safarin and Hadatha, the state news agency NNA reported.

Israeli forces demolished several homes in Mansouri in the Tyre district, while Wadi Zibqin came under artillery fire, accompanied by heavy-machine-gun fire, the outlet said.

In Nabatieh, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes overnight, hitting Nabatieh al-Fawqa twice, as well as the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit and the town of Mayfadoun, where one strike completely destroyed a house.

The Doha Kafr Rumman area was also targeted by artillery fire. In the Marjayoun district, Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Mazraat al-Shomeriya and the town of Al-Qusayr.

Israeli forces conducted machine-gun fire toward Beit Yahoun and Safarin in Bint Jbeil, while an Israeli tank fired four shells at Hadatha before Israeli forces moved toward the center of the town and set fire to the area.

In a statement posted on the US social media company X, the Israeli army claimed the attacks were in response to a Hezbollah explosive-laden drone launched Saturday toward its forces in what it called the “security zone” in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah had not commented on the Israeli claim.

Since March 2, Israel has been conducting military operations in Lebanon, killing at least 4,386 people, injuring 12,407 others and displacing more than 1 million, according to Lebanese authorities.

​​​​​​​The attacks came despite a US-mediated framework agreement signed in June, which provides for gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in return for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of Hezbollah.