Alleged Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon despite US-Iran deal

Explosions Strike Nabatieh District

Explosions rocked the towns of Kfar Tebnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in Lebanon’s Nabatieh district on Tuesday, sending plumes of smoke into the sky as Israeli military operations continued despite the announcement of a deal between Washington and Tehran.

Footage shows smoke rising from the struck areas and damage caused by the strikes. Explosions and ambulance sirens can also be heard in the video.

Lebanese media outlets reported that Nabatieh El Faouqa came under artillery shelling, while a guided missile struck the vicinity of the Teachers’ Building in the town. It was also reported that Israel intensified its strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday afternoon.

Casualties Rise As Operations Continue

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the death toll since the escalation of Israeli military operations on March 3 has reached 3,826 people, with 11,851 others wounded.

The Israeli military had not commented on the specific strikes at the time of publication. Earlier, however, it said operations in southern Lebanon would continue to counter Hezbollah threats.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israeli forces would not withdraw from territories seized in Lebanon.

Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said, “I’m not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah.”

Iran Deal And Ceasefire Discussions

On Sunday 14 June, Trump revealed that the US had struck a deal with Iran to end the conflict, although the exact details were not clear at the time of publication.

On the same day, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif said that there would be “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”

Media reports have pointed to a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the US naval blockade, sanctions relief for Iran, and talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump posted ‘let the oil flow’ and said the Strait would open on Friday.

The Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that the official signing of the memorandum of understanding with Washington would take place on Friday 19 June, adding that negotiations on the final agreement would be postponed ‘until the commitments set out in the memorandum have been implemented’.

Leaders Address Ongoing Conflict

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to a reporter’s question about plans to continue attacking Lebanon.

“President Trump and I have known each other for many years. He is the President of the United States, and I am the Prime Minister of Israel. We often see eye to eye, but there are also cases where we do not see eye to eye as much,” he stated.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called an end to the fighting in Lebanon a ‘prerequisite’ for an end to the war.