Key facts
- Israel has ordered its military to halt sensitive operations in southern Lebanon due to American pressure.
- The Israeli army plans to withdraw from two areas next week.
- The Lebanese Health Ministry reported 4,321 deaths and 12,207 injuries from Israeli attacks since March 2, 2026.
- Seventeen people were killed and 35 wounded in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
- An Israeli drone strike on Friday wounded two people in Nabatieh.
- Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli forces.
Fighting has persisted in southern Lebanon, with Israeli strikes and demolitions continuing despite a ceasefire that began on April 16. On Thursday, 17 people were killed and 35 wounded in Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Hezbollah also reported carrying out attacks on Israeli forces. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized these actions as "continuing Israeli violations" of the truce and called for pressure on Israel to respect international laws.
On Friday, an Israeli drone targeted a truck in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, wounding two people. Demolition operations continued in the area, with multiple blasts heard in Khiam. The Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings for 15 villages in southern Lebanon, many within a 10km zone from the border where it states it continues to operate against threats. Israel claims its actions are in response to alleged violations of the deal by Hezbollah, while Lebanese officials view the continued strikes and evacuations as a pattern of violations. The US-mediated ceasefire permits Israel to respond to "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks," a clause Hezbollah rejects.
Since the latest conflict began on March 2, over 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 103 health professionals, 270 women, and more than 170 children. One Israeli soldier was killed in combat on Thursday, bringing the total Israeli troop deaths since early March to 17.