Lebanon reports strikes on south, east as Israel issues broad evacuation warnings
Lebanon reported Israeli airstrikes in the south and east, including Nabatieh and Jezzine, with civilian casualties and evacuation warnings issued for 24 locations. Meanwhile, US-Iran negotiations for a broader Middle East ceasefire include Lebanon, though Hezbollah rejects unilateral ceasefire terms and clashes continue along the border.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) confirmed Israeli airstrikes hit southern regions on Saturday, including Nabatieh, Jezzine, and Baalbek, with one Lebanese soldier severely wounded by a drone and a local official killed in Rihan. The Israeli military warned residents of 24 areas near Nabatieh to evacuate immediately, citing impending raids, while Hezbollah claimed drone attacks on Israeli vehicles and thwarted an Israeli "infiltration" attempt near Kfar Tebrnit. Artillery shelling was reported overnight in Nabatieh and surrounding areas, leaving the city nearly deserted. Israel declared all areas south of the Zahrani River a combat zone last month, intensifying strikes in the region. Hezbollah’s fighters engaged Israeli soldiers in Majdal Zoun and claimed to have intercepted an Israeli aerial target crossing into Lebanon. Diplomatic efforts to end the wider Middle East conflict remain stalled, despite US and Iranian reports of progress. A senior US official confirmed Lebanon is included in a draft deal, though Hezbollah has rejected ceasefire proposals that do not require Israel to halt attacks or withdraw troops. Lebanon’s government accused Iran of using the country as a "bargaining chip," while Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad urged Lebanon to negotiate independently. Lebanon’s death toll from the conflict now stands at 3,756, according to officials. Pakistan’s prime minister stated a US-Iran deal is closer than ever, though fighting persists. Israel’s military reported striking over 70 Hezbollah sites in the past 24 hours, while Hezbollah continued drone and ground operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
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