A wave of Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 18 people and wounded 33 others overnight, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, as talks aimed at cementing a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah were abruptly called off.
The heaviest bombardment was concentrated on Nabatieh district, about 15 miles southeast of Sidon, Lebanese state media reported. The Israeli military said it killed dozens of Hezbollah members in attacks on 80 targets connected to the armed group. Hezbollah said its fighters lying in wait south of Nabatieh struck three Israeli tanks with guided missiles and used rockets and artillery to target Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military confirmed four of its troops were killed and five wounded.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized what he called Israel’s “dangerous and reprehensible escalation,” warning it threatened to sabotage efforts to secure a cease-fire and end the war.
The escalation came as 60-day talks building on a freshly inked agreement halting the U.S.-Iran war — including a permanent end to the conflict in Lebanon — were due to begin Friday at a Swiss alpine resort. The talks were abruptly called off, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to strike Hezbollah “with full force.”
“My directive is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” Netanyahu said. He added that Israeli forces would remain deployed in southern Lebanon “for as long as necessary,” contradicting a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that there would be “a complete cease-fire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel.”
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir went further, saying Israel should retaliate with overwhelming force. “All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben-Gvir said. He added that for every tear shed by an Israeli mother, “a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep.”
Vice President JD Vance, who had been scheduled to attend the talks in Switzerland, rebuked critics of the Iran deal within the Israeli government Thursday, saying they should “wake up and smell the reality.” He reminded them that the weapons Israel relies on for its defense have “been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.”