The Lebanese health ministry said intensive airstrikes since midnight had hampered rescue and evacuation efforts, reporting a preliminary toll of 18 dead and 33 wounded that was expected to rise.
Residents and Lebanese media said airstrikes and shelling hit several towns in the Nabatieh district overnight and into early Friday, in what Lebanon’s state news agency NNA described as one of the heaviest bombardments in recent weeks.
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Israel said the strikes targeted what it described as Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure across several areas of southern Lebanon and were carried out in response to repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed an Israeli force advancing near Ali al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon, destroying three Merkava tanks with guided missiles and targeting troops with rocket and artillery fire. The group said clashes were ongoing.
The escalation came a day after Israel published a map showing an expanded military control zone in southern Lebanon and said it would not rule out carrying out attacks beyond it, raising questions over a US.-brokered agreement reached on Wednesday to end the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The agreement calls for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and for parties to respect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
A senior Israeli official said Israel was engaged in “stubborn negotiations” with US President Donald Trump’s administration over maintaining troops up to 10 km (6.2 miles) inside southern Lebanon as it pursues Hezbollah.
Israel has rejected calls to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli positions, including with explosive drones that have killed and wounded troops this week.
Minister of National Security in an incendiary post on X said, “For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!”
He further added, “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn. Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, and this commitment takes precedence over every other consideration.”
Ben-Gvir also said that he told the Prime Minister, even in our private meetings: For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep.
Enough with the ping-pong. In the Middle East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint—you need to go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror.
Another Israeli minister, Bezalel Smotrich, shared another post on X, in which he said, “A tough morning. Widow Aaron. Time to speak with fire. To open the gates of hell.”
