Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon after framework deal with Hezbollah rejected

Israeli strikes hit the southern Lebanese town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and nearby areas after Lebanon and Israel signed a new framework meant to slow the war, killing at least one person and wounding at least two more. The Israeli military said the drone strike targeted an individual it said posed a threat to its forces, but gave no further details.

Hezbollah rejected the Washington agreement and said it was a blow to Lebanese sovereignty. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, whose group was not involved in the talks, called the deal “humiliating,” “shameful,” and “a surrender of sovereignty.” He said it was “null and void” and vowed that Hezbollah would continue armed resistance.

Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal reached in Washington “historic” and “a blow to Iran and Hezbollah.” Under the four-point plan, Israel is supposed to withdraw from the South Litani area and the Lebanese army is supposed to take exclusive control of the vacated territory, yet Israeli forces are still permitted to remain in an expanded security area in southern Lebanon.

On Saturday, Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said Israeli forces had been ordered to “prepare for an extended stay” in the security zone, which he called an area up to 10 km inside Lebanese territory.

Lebanon’s health ministry says Israeli attacks in the current round of hostilities have killed at least 4,192 people, injured more than 11,600, and displaced more than 1.2 million. Israel says 36 of its soldiers and four civilians have been killed on both sides of the border.

A US-brokered ceasefire on 16 April did not stop the fighting, and a renewed June arrangement, brokered with US guidance, was intended to create pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces would hold exclusive control and non-state actors would be excluded. Hezbollah has refused to accept that arrangement.