Israeli Airstrikes Kill Four in Lebanon as Ceasefire Negotiations Stall

Multiple Israeli strikes killed at least four people in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh governorate on Tuesday, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The drone attacks targeted two vehicles in Mayfadoun and a third vehicle in the village of Shoukin, the agency reported.

During fragile ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the US, Iranian officials have repeatedly said that any ceasefire arrangement would need to include an end to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Pakistan, serving as a mediator in the conflict, stated on Monday that a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran envisages an immediate halt to military operations “on all fronts, including Lebanon,” though the final text has not yet been made public.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s continued occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the agreement, adding that “without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end.”

In a phone conversation with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, called for the US to compel Israel to end its war on Lebanon, stop home demolitions, and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.

Shortly after the US-Iran deal announcement, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel will continue to occupy southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah informed Iran that Tehran will demand a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon in subsequent talks with the US, according to Reuters.

Since fighting resumed on March 2, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,826 people in Lebanon and wounded 11,851, according to the country’s health ministry.

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