Israeli strikes have killed at least 21 and wounded over 39 others in southern Lebanon since Thursday night, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced “a dangerous and reprehensible escalation” that has cost the lives of “dozens of innocent people, including women and children”.
These strikes “undermine all ongoing efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and end the war, particularly in light of recent developments between the United States and Iran”, he said in a statement.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday aimed at ending over 100 days of war in the Middle East, including in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that Hezbollah killed four soldiers in southern Lebanon on Friday, including a battalion commander.
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Hezbollah said its fighters launched attacks on Israeli forces attempting to advance into Lebanese territory.
The group said an Israeli military unit was lured into a “kill zone”, where three Merkava tanks were destroyed near the Ali al-Tahir area south of the country.
A second Israeli unit attempting to retrieve the first group was then targeted with a rocket barrage and mortar shells.
‘Heavy price’
In a statement posted on social media on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to make Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” for its attacks.
“Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary for the protection of the communities of the north,” he said.
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Defence Minister Israel Katz struck a similar tone, saying: “We will not allow harm to our soldiers and citizens, and any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah will be met with great force.”
He said Israeli troops would remain in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon, extending from “the coastline to the heights of Beaufort”.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for a far more aggressive military response.
“For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers should cry,” he wrote on X.
Ben Gvir said that “all of Lebanon should burn” and that Israel must make clear that “the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for grabs”.
Shortly after Ben Gvir’s statements, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Israel to “open the gates of hell”, echoing a phrase he previously used to describe Israeli actions during the genocidal war on Gaza.
US-Iran talks postponed
The latest Israeli attacks come as US and Iranian officials were due to meet in Switzerland to continue talks regarding the MoU signed in France on Wednesday.
The agreement stipulates an end to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Iranian officials have warned they would consider any continued Israeli military presence or operations in the country a violation of its terms.
The Israeli government, which is not a party to the agreement, has strongly opposed the MoU’s provisions on Lebanon. Israel’s military has since published a new map outlining an expanded military occupation and operations in the country.
On Thursday, Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported that the Iranian delegation had postponed plans to continue talks with the US in Switzerland following Israel’s latest escalation in Lebanon.
The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that the first round of talks had been officially postponed.
The latest wave of strikes brings the death toll in Lebanon since 2 March to at least 3,915, despite the ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon on 2 June.
