Israeli Attacks Kill 18 in Southern Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Hopes

At least 18 people were killed and 33 injured in Israeli attacks on various towns in southern Lebanon early Friday, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported. The strikes proceeded despite a recently reached agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at a cessation of hostilities, which was intended to include Lebanon.

The most severe incident took place in the town of Harouf, where at least seven people died and ten were wounded, according to the Emergency Health Operations Center. Preliminary reports indicate that other towns targeted included Doueir, Al Sharqiyah, Al Qatrani, and Jesbshit, with casualties reported in each. The ministry described the Israeli attacks, which occurred from midnight until morning, as "intense" and stated they hindered the evacuation of the deceased and injured.

The Lebanese National News Agency (ANN) reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the Baydar neighborhood in Harouf around 3:00 AM local time. In Doueir, a residential building in the Al Tarbiya wal Taalem neighborhood was hit. Among the fatalities in Al Sharqiyah was a member of the Civil Defense, identified as Mahmoud Jaafar Shuaib, who was killed along with his family, as confirmed by the Civil Defense entity in a statement lamenting the "Israeli aggression."

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The Israeli attacks from midnight until this morning were intense, and they impede the evacuation of the deceased and injured.

These bombings occurred hours after the Lebanese Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for two attacks against Israeli troops attempting to advance in southern Lebanon as part of Israel's ongoing operations. Israel has not yet commented on the Lebanese report of casualties.

The escalation follows the digital signing of a memorandum of understanding between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian, which extended the ceasefire to Lebanon. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday that the army would maintain a "security zone" in occupied territories of southern Lebanon, asserting Israel would not withdraw as long as security needs demanded it. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem recently suggested that "mutual security" should be the basis for negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, urging the use of the Iran-U.S. peace agreement to "expel" Israel and restore sovereignty.

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The limit for negotiations between Israel and Lebanon must be 'mutual security,' and we must take advantage of the peace agreement between Iran and the United States to expel the Jewish state and restore sovereignty.