Israel kills 16 in Lebanon despite US-Iran deal coming into force
Lebanon's National News Agency said Israeli bombing and artillery attacks on Nabatieh city and surrounding towns killed at least 16 people early Friday, as strikes persisted despite a US-Iran agreement meant to end the war and halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon coming into force.
Israeli warplanes and artillery struck Nabatieh city and surrounding towns in southern Lebanon early Friday, killing at least 16 people and wounding several others in a series of attacks that persisted despite a US-Iran agreement meant to halt hostilities taking effect this week, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
Strikes on Nabatieh
The attacks began after midnight and targeted inhabited homes in Al-Sharqiyah, Harouf and Kfar Sir, leaving several people missing beneath the rubble, the agency reported. Around 2:10 am local time, warplanes struck Nabatieh city, Kfar Tebnit, Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Rayhan heights, while further bombardment at 3 am hit the Kfarjoz-Nabatieh area, the university neighborhood and the Al-Baydar neighborhood in Harouf.
The strikes killed eight people in the early morning raids. Another attack destroyed a house in the Al-Ashamiya area between Al-Sharqiyah and Doueir, killing four occupants, while three people died in Kfar Sir and an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle near the Doueir municipality building around 5 am, killing one person and wounding another, according to the report.
Deal takes effect
The violence persisted despite the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" signed electronically on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which aims to end the war launched by Washington and Israel against Iran on February 28. The agreement specifically envisages halting Israeli strikes on Lebanon and mandates 60 days of negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding Iran's nuclear program and international sanctions, with the possibility of extension.
Occupation and casualties
Israel has waged a large-scale offensive on Lebanon since March 2, killing 3,912 people, injuring 11,873 others and displacing more than 1 million, according to official figures. Israeli forces continue to occupy areas in southern Lebanon — some for decades — and advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during the recent campaign.
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