As the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the United States and Iran appears imminent, raising expectations of easing tensions across the Middle East, Israel is instead intensifying military operations targeting Hezbollah, a pro-Iran armed faction, ratcheting up pressure.
On the 13th (local time), according to the New York Times (NYT), CNN and others, the Israeli military ordered residents in 20 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate and then carried out large-scale airstrikes. In the process, casualties were reported, including the death of the mayor of the Alihan area in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's state-run news agency NNA said the Israeli military launched successive airstrikes on key southern areas including Tyre, Jizzin and Nabatieh, and that a church was also hit. The Israeli military claimed it had struck more than 70 Hezbollah military and infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours.
Hezbollah also struck back. Hezbollah said it attacked 19 Israeli military outposts that day, continuing its offensive.
The clashes draw attention because they occurred amid speculation that the U.S.-Iran end-of-war MOU being pursued could include a cease-fire on the Lebanese front. Iran has maintained that any agreement with the United States must include a Lebanese cease-fire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a state TV interview the previous day that the still-unsigned MOU will contain solutions for "all fronts," including the Lebanese conflict.
Israel, however, says it will treat the Lebanon issue separately. Defense Minister Israel Katz said it would not withdraw from occupied areas in Lebanon, adding, "The military will respond to both near and distant threats." As a result, some say that even if the United States and Iran sign an end-of-war MOU, it will be difficult to immediately defuse tensions on the Lebanese front.