Lebanon state media reports new Israeli strikes in south

Israeli airstrikes and shelling targeted southern Lebanon overnight into Thursday morning, according to Lebanese state media, escalating hostilities after Israel announced its first military deaths in more than a month. The renewed violence began Wednesday afternoon.

“

the Israeli enemy escalated its attacks

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that "the Israeli enemy escalated its attacks" on the Tyre district with "a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling" that continued from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The agency detailed four strikes in the town of Burj al-Shamali, which resulted in four people being wounded. Additionally, Israeli aircraft conducted three strikes in and around Mansouri, while artillery shelling and tank fire simultaneously targeted the town.

These developments occurred as Israel and Lebanon participated in U.S.-mediated talks in Rome, where Beirut was seeking a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed at least one person was killed in Wednesday's strikes. Israel accused Hezbollah of provoking the action by violating a ceasefire that had previously reduced hostilities significantly since June.

“

a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling

Israel's military later confirmed the deaths of two reservists on Wednesday, marking the first Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon since June 28. The talks in Rome, aimed at ending the fighting, saw Israel request an early end to Wednesday's proceedings, though resumption was expected Thursday. Previous talks in June established a framework for Hezbollah's disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the south.

“

the day's proceedings end early on Wednesday

Hizbollah has consistently rejected these talks and refuses to surrender its weapons. Its leader, Naim Qassem, stated on Tuesday that direct negotiations would yield "nothing but shame, humiliation" and concessions for Lebanon. Hizbollah initiated Lebanon's involvement in the wider Middle East war on March 2 by firing rockets at Israel in support of Iran. While violence had decreased following a Lebanon-Israel deal and a preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement, intermittent Israeli strikes and shelling persisted. Since the conflict began, Israel's military has reported 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed.

“

nothing but shame, humiliation