Israel intensifies strikes on southern Lebanon despite US-brokered framework agreement

Israel carried out fresh airstrikes and artillery shelling on towns and areas of southern Lebanon on Thursday as attacks intensified despite a US-brokered framework agreement.

An Israeli airstrike hit residential neighborhoods in the town of Mansouri in Tyre district, Lebanon’s state news agency (NNA) said.

In Bint Jbeil district, an Israeli strike targeted a house on the outskirts of Haris-Hadata in the Al-Arish area, hitting it with two missiles and destroying it, the agency said.

Israeli artillery also shelled the Marjayoun plain, it added.

There was no immediate information on casualties from the attacks.

The latest strikes came as part of an Israeli escalation that began late Wednesday which included airstrikes, artillery shelling and large explosions in several southern Lebanese towns.

During the night, Israeli forces carried out a massive explosion in the town of Bani Hayyan in Marjayoun district, NNA said.

Videos circulating online showed large explosions targeting homes and residential buildings.

In Tyre district, Israeli warplanes struck Mansouri, coinciding with explosions carried out by Israeli forces there, while artillery shelling targeted Wadi al-Hujair and Wadi al-Salouqi in Bint Jbeil district.

Israeli artillery also shelled the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiya toward Mayfadoun in Nabatieh governorate.

In a separate development, the Israeli army carried out an explosion in the Ali al-Taher Heights on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, causing strong tremors and a loud blast that echoed across Nabatieh governorate and surrounding areas.

The explosion came after Israel’s Channel 12 and public broadcaster KAN reported earlier Thursday that the army was preparing to blow up tunnels and infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Heights overnight.

Ali al-Taher Hill is located between Kfar Tibnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, north of the Litani River. It rises around 600 meters (1,968 feet) above sea level, giving it geographic and military importance as it overlooks wide areas of southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army later claimed in a statement that it had completed the destruction of underground routes in the area with a total length of more than 2 kilometers (1.24 miles).

It claimed that forces from the 36th Division had achieved “operational control” above and below ground in the Ali al-Taher Heights and alleged that the tunnels were intended for use by the Hezbollah group.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the destruction of the tunnels completed what they called the “organization of the security zone in southern Lebanon.”

They said the Israeli army “will remain in the security zone.”

The Israeli escalation in Lebanon comes as Israel enters a decisive election period, with Netanyahu seeking to unite small right-wing parties ahead of Oct. 27 elections.

Recent polls have shown his bloc still struggling to reach the 61-seat majority needed to form a government, while Netanyahu has made security issues and confrontation with Israel’s regional opponents a central part of his election rhetoric.

On Wednesday, the Lebanese army said it had recorded around 7,700 Israeli violations since a framework agreement was signed by Israel and Lebanon on June 26, warning that their continuation threatens existing understandings and arrangements.

The army said Israel had escalated its targeting of residential areas and institutions in recent days, causing deaths and injuries, the latest of which were at least 12 killed, including women and children, in Kfar Rumman in Nabatieh district.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued despite the signing of the US-sponsored framework agreement, which provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territory in return for the deployment of the Lebanese army there.

Israel has occupied areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the war between 2023 and 2024, while expanding its presence inside Lebanese territory during its ongoing assault.