The Israeli military has carried out a new round of air strikes in southern Lebanon, less than a day after Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades. Residents of the towns of Mjadel, Baraachit, Jbaa, and Mahrouna were told to evacuate areas around locations that the Israeli military alleged were weapons warehouses belonging to the Iranian-backed group. No casualties have been reported.
An Israeli military spokesman said the sites constituted a ceasefire violation and warned that it would continue to operate to remove any threat to Israel. Israel has conducted near-daily strikes on Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect in November 2024, following 13 months of conflict.
There was no immediate comment from Lebanon's leaders regarding Thursday's strikes. Lebanese politicians have previously condemned similar strikes as ceasefire violations. Under the first phase of a deal brokered by the US and France, Israeli troops were to withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah was to remove its fighters and weapons from south of the Litani river.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the talks held in Naqoura took place in a good atmosphere, suggesting potential economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon. However, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized that Lebanon remained far from any normalized diplomatic relations with Israel, focusing instead on defusing tensions and securing the release of detainees.
The recent air strikes and diplomatic maneuvers occur alongside a UN Security Council delegation's visit to Lebanon to assess the ceasefire's implementation.
An Israeli military spokesman said the sites constituted a ceasefire violation and warned that it would continue to operate to remove any threat to Israel. Israel has conducted near-daily strikes on Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect in November 2024, following 13 months of conflict.
There was no immediate comment from Lebanon's leaders regarding Thursday's strikes. Lebanese politicians have previously condemned similar strikes as ceasefire violations. Under the first phase of a deal brokered by the US and France, Israeli troops were to withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah was to remove its fighters and weapons from south of the Litani river.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the talks held in Naqoura took place in a good atmosphere, suggesting potential economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon. However, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized that Lebanon remained far from any normalized diplomatic relations with Israel, focusing instead on defusing tensions and securing the release of detainees.
The recent air strikes and diplomatic maneuvers occur alongside a UN Security Council delegation's visit to Lebanon to assess the ceasefire's implementation.
