BEIRUT — Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing at least nine people including Lebanese army officers, days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, officials said.
The strikes targeted areas in southern Lebanon amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah, even as efforts continued to implement a conditional truce announced earlier in the week, Lebanese authorities and Israeli officials reported.
Lebanese state media and the army reported that an airstrike on a vehicle on the Khardali-Nabatieh road near Kfar Tebnit killed a brigadier general, a captain and another soldier, along with other casualties. The Lebanese army condemned the incident as a violation of sovereignty.
The Israeli military confirmed hitting the vehicle, stating it acted after spotting suspicious movement toward troops in an active combat zone amid threats from Hezbollah. The IDF said the incident involving Lebanese army members is under review.
The strikes followed a U.S.-led agreement announced on June 3 in Washington, under which Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire contingent on a complete cessation of fire by Hezbollah and the evacuation of its operatives from southern Lebanon south of the Litani River. Hezbollah has rejected the deal, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Lebanese officials and media reported additional Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon in recent days, with casualties and displacement. Israeli forces have maintained operations in the area, issuing evacuation orders for villages.
The fragile ceasefire efforts come in the context of a broader conflict involving Hezbollah and Israel that has lasted months and caused thousands of deaths. The latest agreement aimed to create pilot security zones in Lebanon to limit Hezbollah activities.
U.S. officials described the deal as a step toward de-escalation, with further talks planned later in June. However, both sides have accused each other of violations since the announcement.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem stated that attacks on Lebanese villages would continue to draw responses, according to reports. Israeli officials have said operations would target Hezbollah infrastructure.
As of Sunday, the ceasefire had not taken full effect, with exchanges of fire reported. Details on the exact implementation and next steps remained subject to ongoing negotiations.
The situation underscored the challenges in achieving a lasting halt to hostilities in southern Lebanon.
