Israel kills at least 18 in Lebanon just a day after US, Iran signed deal to end war

Israeli air strikes killed at least 18 people overnight in southern Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said on Friday, despite a peace deal in the Middle East war that includes Lebanon.

"The intensive Israeli air strikes carried out from midnight until this morning have prevented the evacuation of the martyrs and wounded, and have resulted in a preliminary toll of 18 martyrs and 33 wounded" in at least 10 villages and towns, the ministry said.

Lebanon's National News Agency said "the enemy committed several massacres" with a series of air strikes after midnight that targeted residential areas in several towns, including Haruf, where at least eight people were killed.

They were the deadliest strikes since Iran and the United States agreed to halt the wider Middle East war.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said on Friday that four of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, its first losses since the deal was signed.

The announcement came after the military said it had carried out strikes across south Lebanon against Hezbollah following what it called "repeated violations of the ceasefire" by the Iran-backed group.

Israel has been bombarding Lebanon since March 2, killing 3,912 people, wounding 11,873 others and displacing more than 1 million, according to the latest official figures.

Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the latest aggression. Israeli forces have advanced more than 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory during their recent invasion.

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Source: TRT