Israeli forces shell 5 southern Lebanon towns as drones fly low over Beirut

The Israeli army carried out artillery shelling and machine-gun fire against five towns in southern Lebanon on Friday, while drones flew at low altitude over the capital Beirut, according to official media. Lebanon’s National News Agency said an Israeli tank fired two artillery shells toward a house in the Al-Mashaa area of Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh district. In the Marjayoun district, Israeli artillery targeted the towns of Tallousa and Bani Hayyan, accompanied by machine-gun fire toward Tallousa.

In the Tyre district, artillery shelling struck Majdal Zoun and Buyout al-Sayyad towns, while Israeli forces opened machine-gun fire toward the main road leading to the town of Al-Mansouri. The agency also reported that drones flew at low altitude over Beirut without carrying out attacks. There were no reports of deaths or injuries from the shelling or gunfire. The attacks come despite a framework agreement signed by Beirut and Tel Aviv under US mediation on June 26, which provides for an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese army.

Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023-2024 war, when Israeli ground forces advanced around 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.