Israeli airstrike kills seven in southern Lebanon despite US-Iran ceasefire

At least seven more people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's National News Agency on Thursday. The agency reported an Israeli air raid on the town of Abbassiyeh killed at least seven people and injured others, noting the figures remain preliminary.

Widespread strikes

It added that Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on several towns, including Kafra, Jmaijmeh, Safad al-Battikh, Majdal Selm, Deir Antar and areas surrounding the Qasmiyeh bridge. The strikes were carried out along with artillery shelling that targeted the town of Haris, the report said.

Ceasefire exclusion

The attacks came despite a US-Iran ceasefire agreement announced on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had previously stated that the two-week ceasefire with Iran "does not include Lebanon," indicating that operations against Hezbollah would continue.

Mounting toll

On Wednesday, at least 254 people were killed and 1,165 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon, including Beirut, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense. The Lebanese Health Ministry said the overall death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 1,739, with 5,873 others injured.

Regional context

The strikes come as a high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad for talks with the US, despite skepticism over repeated ceasefire violations by Israel. Iran has warned it could withdraw from the US-backed ceasefire if Israeli violations continue.