Israeli army shells southern Lebanon amid stalled ceasefire talks

Israeli artillery continued to bombard several southern Lebanese towns on Sunday, defying recent advances in ceasefire negotiations held in Rome.

The National News Agency (ANN) reported intermittent artillery shelling in the Mayfadoun and Zawtar al Sharqiya areas, located in the southern Nabatieh district. The shelling intensified from Saturday midnight into Sunday, also affecting the Ali Taher hills, the outskirts of Nabatieh al Fawqa, and Kfar Ruman.

Earlier, ANN detailed a "large explosion" in Zawtar al Sharqiya, without providing specifics on casualties or the extent of the damage. Israeli troops were also reportedly advancing towards Zawtar al Gharbiya, a southern Lebanese town from which Israeli forces were expected to withdraw by late July as part of an agreement to allow the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces.

The continued attacks in southern Lebanon come just three days after the seventh round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel concluded in Italy. The talks aimed to discuss, among other points, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon following the offensive that began on March 2.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed "positive progress" on Friday, but only concerning border disputes and the release of Lebanese prisoners, without mentioning developments on a truce. The Shiite group Hezbollah, however, does not participate in the talks with Israel and does not support the Lebanese government's dialogue with Tel Aviv, creating tensions between the executive and the political-armed formation.