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Rome talks, Lebanon strikes
Israel resumed military strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday while Lebanon and Israel held US-backed negotiations in Rome aimed at ending months of cross-border hostilities, with Beirut saying at least one person was killed in the attacks.
“"In light of Hezbollah's violations of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to act against it with force."”
France 24 reported that the Israeli military blamed Hezbollah for violating a ceasefire and issued its first evacuation alert in weeks for the southern town of Mansouri, telling residents: "In light of Hezbollah's violations of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to act against it with force."
The France 24 account said the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokeswoman, Ella Waweya, posted on X that residents of Mansouri must evacuate immediately and move north.
France 24 also said the town of Mansouri is located around nine kilometres (six miles) south of Tyre and 10 kilometres north of Israel, and that the town and its surroundings were subjected to several Israeli strikes and artillery shelling in recent weeks despite the ceasefire that took hold in June.
France 24 added that Israel’s military has lost 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor since the war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in early March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.
Competing claims and quotes
As the delegations met in Rome, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the direct negotiations would bring "nothing but shame, humiliation" and successive concessions for Lebanon.
France 24 reported that Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected the direct talks and refuses to surrender its weapons, while the Israeli military said it was conducting "precise strikes in southern Lebanon" in response to what it called a ceasefire violation.
In parallel, Euronews said the Israeli army announced the start of strikes on southern Lebanon in response to what it described as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, adding: "In response to Hezbollah’s flagrant violation of the ceasefire, the Israeli army began carrying out precise strikes in southern Lebanon."
Euronews also reported that the National News Agency said one person was killed and 11 others were wounded by an Israeli airstrike that targeted the roof of a cemetery prayer hall in Tibnin, southern Lebanon.
Euronews further stated that the airstrikes followed a warning issued by the Israeli army to the residents of Al-Mansouri, instructing them to evacuate immediately and keep at least a thousand meters away from the north of the town toward open areas.
Human cost and what’s at risk
The Lebanese Ministry of Health figures cited by Al Jazeera’s regional reporting put the human toll from Israel’s aggression since early March at 4,333 people martyred and more than 12,000 others wounded, while negotiations in Rome were due to conclude Thursday.
“According to the latest statistics from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the ongoing Israeli aggression since early March has caused heavy human losses, with 4,333 people martyred and more than 12,000 others wounded.”
In the same reporting, the Rome talks were described as remaining at a standstill because the Israeli side insisted on expanding the areas approved in the initial withdrawal phase, with Beirut awaiting a clear statement and practical commitment that ends ongoing violations undermining the prospects for reaching a final agreement.
Anadolu Ajansı said the negotiations were held in Rome, Italy, beginning on Tuesday and ending on Thursday, while Israel continued what it called violations in Lebanon, including drones flying over Beirut and Sidon.
Anadolu Ajansı also reported that Israel has been continuing its aggression against Lebanon since March 2, which has resulted in the deaths of 4,333 people and injuries to 12,250 others, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
France 24 said Beirut hoped to gain Trump support to bring 'normality' back in the south Lebanon, while the US State Department official told AFP that this week’s discussions would include expanding the pilot zone process, resolving outstanding border issues, and working on a comprehensive peace and security agreement.
