OMM Newsroom
Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling across southern Lebanon on Thursday as an Israeli military force advanced toward the outskirts of Habbariyeh, in the Al-Arqoub area, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
Israeli aircraft struck Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district, while artillery fire targeted Mansouri and the Bayut al-Sayyad farm south of Tyre, NNA said.
Israeli artillery also shelled Wadi Zibqin and, overnight, an area between Beit Yahoun and Baraachit in the Bint Jbeil district.
In Habbariyeh, Israeli artillery fired six consecutive shells at the town’s outskirts as a military force moved toward the area, according to NNA.
The force, comprising about 20 soldiers and four tanks, advanced toward the Nabaa al-Khoukh area on Habbariyeh’s outskirts in the Hasbaya district, opening machine-gun fire as it carried out searches. Four Merkava tanks were also seen moving around Nabaa al-Khoukh as the force approached the town’s outskirts.
Separately, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near a fishing boat off Al-Amiriya. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The attacks took place as military technical meetings between Beirut and Tel Aviv continued in Florida under US sponsorship. The meetings began on Tuesday and are intended to review implementation of the framework agreement and discuss “pilot areas” from which the Israeli army is expected to withdraw in southern Lebanon, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent.
The US-sponsored agreement, reached between Beirut and Tel Aviv on June 26, calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of armed groups.
The agreement also established the principle of pilot areas for implementation. So far, it has been applied only in three southern towns—Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in the Nabatieh district—while more than 50 towns remain occupied.
Despite the agreement, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued, killing at least 4,386 people and injuring 12,407 since March 2, while displacing more than 1 million people.
Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023-2024 war. During the latest conflict, Israeli forces advanced about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory.
