18 killed as Israeli strikes in Lebanon violate US-Iran peace agreement

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted what it described as Hezbollah militants and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. It added that the attacks were launched in response to what it called repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Iran-backed group.

In Short

• Strikes targeted Hezbollah militants and infrastructure
• Attacks followed Iran-US MoU signed by Trump in France
• Israeli military cited ceasefire violations by Iran-backed group

At least 18 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, according to news agency Reuters. The Israeli military said it carried out strikes overnight in several areas and continued its attacks across the region.

This was the second such attack since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States was signed by President Donald Trump in Versailles, France, on Thursday. The MoU called for the cessation of all military action against Iran and on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Iran-US peace talks scheduled to be held in Switzerland were called off over Israeli attacks in Lebanon, according to Iranian media.

Iran's Fars News Agency reported that Tehran "will not unilaterally implement its commitment" until there is a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted what it described as Hezbollah militants and infrastructure on Iran's front in southern Lebanon. It added that the attacks were launched in response to what it called repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Iran-backed group.

Israeli military officials said they struck Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon overnight and that the attacks were still ongoing, as the situation in the area remained active.

Following the signing of the MoU, Trump had said that the US expects "a complete ceasefire on all fronts," including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.

"We encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold," Trump wrote on Truth Social, one day after he signed a memorandum of understanding to end a nearly four-month conflict with Iran.

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, has already warned of a "forceful response" if any of the terms or clauses of the agreement are violated.

The first attack since the deal was signed came from Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which killed at least three people, according to Lebanese state media. The strikes occurred shortly after the United States and Iran signed an interim agreement calling for an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.

The latest reported attacks included a drone strike near Kfar Tebnit and another strike in Zabadin, even as Hezbollah said it had halted a four-day Israeli operation that it said was aimed at moving deeper into southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said on Thursday that an Israeli drone hit a car near the town of Kfar Tebnit, killing two people. It added that at least one person was killed in a separate Israeli strike in Zabadin.

Hezbollah said in a statement that it had pushed back the Israeli offensive. The group said its fighters targeted Israeli troops and tanks with drones, rockets and artillery during the four-day operation.

According to Hezbollah, those attacks stopped Israeli forces from advancing towards Kfar Tebnit. The strikes reported by Lebanese state media came a day after the interim agreement between the United States and Iran, which called for the war to end on all fronts, including Lebanon.

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