Five people were killed as Israel struck southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah, a pro-Iran armed group, is based, even after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war with Iran. A cease-fire deal was announced, but clashes have continued, heightening tensions again.
On the 20th (local time), Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported that Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said, "Israeli fighter jets and drones carried out airstrikes on more than 10 locations in southern Lebanon through this morning."
Israel's strikes focused on the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon. The NNA said three people were killed in the village of Arab Salim, and one person each was killed in the villages of Deir Zahrani and Dweir.
Earlier, a U.S. official said that, under mediation by the relevant parties, "Israel and Hezbollah agreed to enter a cease-fire from 4 p.m. on the 19th, local time, in Lebanon." Later, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yehiel Leiter also said on X that "if Hezbollah respects the (cease-fire) agreement and halts hostilities, they will be met with quiet," signaling a conditional truce.
However, damage on the ground has continued since the 19th, when the cease-fire deal was announced. Lebanon's Health Ministry said 47 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes. The same day, the Israeli military said four of its soldiers were killed in combat and that it carried out more than 150 airstrikes in Lebanon, killing dozens of Hezbollah fighters.
Meanwhile, the United States and Iran agreed on an MOU to immediately and permanently end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, but the first working-level talks have been postponed as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues.