Israel strikes southern Lebanon amid reported U.S.-Iran truce deal

Israeli warplanes and drones conducted raids in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, striking targets in the Nabatiyeh region and the eastern outskirts of the city of Kfar Tebnit. Israeli drones also hit the city of Ansariyeh in the Zahran district, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

Despite a reported U.S.-Iran agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East, at least five people were killed in the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. As violence subsides, some residents of southern Lebanon are returning to inspect their towns and villages. However, the Lebanese army urged them to postpone their return due to the risk of "Israeli incursions and attacks."

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Israel does not withdraw its forces from the territories occupied during this war.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, entered the war in early March, launching rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader in a U.S.-Israeli strike. Israel responded with a massive aerial bombardment campaign and a ground invasion. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Tuesday that the conflict would not end completely if "Israel does not withdraw its forces from the territories occupied during this war."

Hezbollah has not made any statements about attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon since Tuesday. The group's leader, Naim Qassem, is scheduled to deliver a televised speech on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he expressed "great gratitude" for Iran's efforts to "compel Israel to immediately and permanently cease military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon." The Lebanese Ministry of Health on Tuesday raised the number of deaths from Israeli attacks since the start of the war to 3,826, as rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble.

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great gratitude