Deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah retaliation threaten US-Iran truce

At least 18 people were killed in southern Lebanon following a series of Israeli air strikes overnight, according to Lebanon's health ministry, while Israel reported the deaths of four of its soldiers in Hezbollah attacks. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck 80 Hezbollah-linked targets and killed "dozens" of the group's members, marking one of the most intense bombardments in the region since the start of the conflict.

The escalation comes just one day after the United States and Iran signed a deal aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East, including a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon. Despite the agreement, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued to launch attacks, raising doubts about the viability of the truce. The US-Iran accord calls for an end to all-front hostilities and respect for Lebanon's territorial integrity, but Israel has stated it has no intention of withdrawing its forces from Lebanese soil and insists its fight against Hezbollah is separate from the broader conflict with Iran.

Hezbollah claimed it ambushed an Israeli unit in southern Lebanon, destroying three tanks with guided missiles and targeting troops with rocket and artillery fire. Lebanese state media described the overnight bombardment across the Nabatieh district as one of the most severe of the war, with at least 33 wounded and several buildings hit. The violence has displaced around one million people and devastated dozens of communities in southern Lebanon.

The renewed fighting has drawn sharp political reactions. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said "all of Lebanon must burn," while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Israel to respect the deal and called on the US to pressure the Israeli government. US Vice-President JD Vance, who had been scheduled to attend a new round of direct talks in Switzerland, cancelled his trip and criticised Israeli cabinet members opposed to the agreement, saying they should "wake up and smell reality."

Since the latest conflict began, at least 3,912 people have been killed and 11,699 wounded in Lebanon, according to the health ministry. The US-Iran deal, signed on Thursday, includes provisions on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and a commitment to final settlement within 60 days. However, the continuing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah threaten to undermine the accord and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the region.