Israeli forces launched fresh airstrikes and military raids across southern Lebanon at the weekend, targeting several areas in the country’s south despite a United States-sponsored framework agreement.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported on Saturday that the attacks targeted the districts of Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun, with Israeli aircraft and drones operating over several towns.
In Nabatieh district, Israeli warplanes struck an area between Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit. Another airstrike hit the outskirts of Baraachit in Bint Jbeil district.
In Marjayoun district, Israeli forces carried out an explosion in Tallousa, while a drone flew at low altitude over nearby communities.
Israeli troops also fired machine guns from the direction of Khiam toward agricultural areas in Ibl al-Saqi.
Separately, warplanes struck an area between Adshit al-Qusayr and Taybeh, the NNA reported.
Israeli drones were also seen flying at low altitude over Tyre and surrounding areas, reaching both sides of the Litani River near Qasmiyeh.
Continued drone activity was also reported over Beirut’s southern suburbs from early Saturday.
The attacks followed military and technical discussions between Lebanese and Israeli representatives held in Tampa, Florida, on October 20 and 21 under US sponsorship.
The meetings concluded without a publicly announced breakthrough or joint statement.
Reports said the two sides had agreed to continue negotiations, although major differences remained, particularly over Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the disarmament of the resistance movement Hezbollah.
The latest raids came despite the US-brokered framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel in June.
The proposed arrangement calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and Hezbollah’s disarmament before the withdrawal is completed.
However, Israeli occupation forces continue to carry out airstrikes in southern Lebanon and maintain control over Lebanese territory. Some areas have been under Israeli occupation for years, while others were seized during the latest war.
Israel has pushed approximately 10 kilometres (six miles) into Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah has vowed to drive Israeli occupation forces out of southern Lebanon, warning the Lebanese government that yielding to US demands would endanger the country and undermine its sovereignty.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks since March 2nd have killed at least 4,386 people and wounded 12,407 others.
More than one million people have also been displaced.
Israeli military forces have escalated their assaults in southern Lebanon, demolishing homes and other buildings while conducting artillery bombardments and machine-gun fire across multiple locations.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported that extensive machine-gun fire was directed at the towns of Khiam and Qantara last Friday.
Homes were also set ablaze in Qantara.
The report added that the Israeli army carried out an explosion in the town of Tayri in the Bint Jbeil district, while 155-millimetre artillery shells targeted Wadi al-Hujeir toward the town of Touline.
Additionally, artillery shelling struck areas surrounding Kfar Shuba in the Arqoub region, the outskirts of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district, and Wadi Zibqin in the Tyre district.
The region between Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiya also came under sporadic artillery fire.
In another incident, Israeli forces detonated a house owned by Hassan Nabaa, a resident of Kfar Shuba, along the Kfar Shuba-Sedana Hill-Shebbaa road, obliterating its contents.
Moreover, an interceptor missile was detonated above the town of Taybeh, although no further details were provided.
In a separate incident, communication was lost with a young man from Rub Thalathin after he exited his vehicle in the Wadi al-Hujeir area and proceeded on foot towards Qantara.
Hezbollah launched military operations against Israel on March 2nd in response to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, repeated Israeli violations of the 2024 ceasefire, and Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory in the south.
Since then, despite months of negotiations, Israel has continued its military offensive against Lebanon.
On June 26, the Beirut government and the Tel Aviv regime signed a so-called Framework Agreement that outlines a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory that is under occupation, in return for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of resistance groups.
The agreement mentions the use of ‘pilot areas’ for its implementation, but it has only been enacted in three towns, while over 50 towns continue to be occupied by Israeli forces.
Lebanon’s Grand Shia Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, has warned regional states about US and Israeli plots, saying Washington and the Tel Aviv regime are pursuing a policy to weaken and divide countries in the West Asia region.
‘Negotiation with the Israeli enemy will not yield any results, whilst reliance on the United States will only bring about destruction,’ Sheikh Qaban stated last Friday evening.
He went on to address Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, stressing that Lebanon will not prosper without national solidarity, full adherence to the National Pact and Constitution, and complete agreement on national defence matters.
‘Just bear in mind that Israel is a dangerous, treacherous and terrorist regime,’ the prominent Lebanese Shia cleric noted, adding that Israel has always taken an aggressive military stance and only knows the language of force.
He stressed that the only way Lebanon can confront the Zionist enemy is through fostering internal unity.
‘It has been proven that the criminal and terrorist regime does not honour any commitment. It has long been terrified of the resistance front. Negotiations with the Zionist enemy will not produce any results, and are not in Lebanon’s national interest at all,’ he said.
Experience has also shown that US statesmen seek absolute obedience from other world officials, and any trust in them will bring about nothing but destruction, Sheikh Qabalan stated.
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem has already strongly rejected the US-sponsored framework agreement between Beirut and Israel as illegitimate and ruled out disarmament while Israeli occupation and aggression against Lebanon continue.
In a statement addressing political developments in Lebanon and the region, Sheikh Qassem said the agreement violated Lebanon’s constitution.
‘There is no room for discussion about disarming the resistance as long as the occupation exists and its aggression continues,’ he said, adding that Hezbollah would confront any aggression against the resistance group and Lebanon.
The proposed arrangement calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and Hezbollah’s disarmament before the withdrawal is completed.
Describing the framework as ‘null and void’, Sheikh Qassem said it granted the Israeli regime concessions it did not deserve and undermined Lebanon’s sources of strength.
The Hezbollah chief reiterated his call for Israeli occupation forces to withdraw from Lebanese territory and urged the Lebanese army to deploy south of the Litani River.
He also noted that Israel has repeatedly violated agreements, using them only to further its expansion and reignite conflict.
He also said that resistance remained necessary to liberate the Lebanese territory, stating that without it, Israel would have expanded its control over the country.
The secretary-general warned that ‘surrender and concessions’ will leave Lebanon with nothing.
Reaffirming Hezbollah’s commitment to national unity, he said the resistance group was prepared to work to bridge divisions and reach common ground with other Lebanese political forces.
However, that unity required practical steps, and Hezbollah’s relationship with the Amal Movement and other allies remains strong on issues including national sovereignty and support for the Lebanese army.
