Lebanon reports Israeli artillery shelling, gunfire in south despite US deal

Lebanese media reported Israeli artillery shelling and gunfire in southern Lebanon on Monday, in the latest violation of a US-mediated security agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv. The state news agency NNA said heavy Israeli artillery fire targeted the area surrounding a spring in the village of Ibl al-Saqi in Marjayoun district early Monday, with more than 10 shells landing in the area. Israeli artillery also hit the towns of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun in Tyre, while army forces opened machine-gun fire toward the Hujeir and Saluki valleys, located between the Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Nabatieh districts.

Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the town of Bani Hayyan in Marjayoun, according to the agency. The attacks came after Lebanon and Israel held technical military talks on Oct. 20-21 in Tampa, Florida, under US sponsorship. The talks ended without an announced breakthrough or joint statement, though reports said the two sides agreed to continue meetings amid ongoing disputes over Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

On June 26, Lebanon and Israel reached a US-sponsored framework agreement providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of armed groups. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued its attacks in Lebanon, killing at least 4,389 people, injuring 12,428 others and displacing more than 1 million people since March 2, according to Lebanese figures. ​​​​​​​Israel occupies areas of southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the 2023-2024 war, while its forces advanced around 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during the latest conflict.