Israeli strikes hit five locations across southern and eastern Lebanon, killing three people and injuring 23, as tensions continued despite a US-backed truce with Hezbollah.

Three Killed In Strikes

Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon on Friday, killing three people and injuring 23, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The attacks hit five locations in the southern regions of Tyre and Nabatieh and in the eastern Bekaa Valley.

The strikes came despite a truce between Israel and Hezbollah and underscored the fragility of the arrangement reached earlier this year.

Lebanese officials said the casualties included civilians, with 15 people wounded in an attack on Rmadiyeh in the Tyre area. The injured included two children, three women and six rescuers.

Nabatieh Strike Kills Two

Two young men were killed in Nabatieh after an Israeli strike targeted them while they were travelling on a motorcycle, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The attack came as Israeli military activity intensified around the Nabatieh region. Another strike was reported near the strategically important Ali al-Taher ridge.

The ridge has emerged as a major flashpoint in the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict because of its elevated position and suspected underground military infrastructure. Reuters reported that Israeli forces have been operating around the ridge and recently announced that they had cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels in the area.

Israel Tightens Control

Israel’s military said it had taken control of the Ali al-Taher ridge and was working to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its presence there.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military would continue efforts to stop what Israel considers Hezbollah’s attempts to restore its infrastructure in the area.

Hezbollah has not publicly confirmed that it has lost control of the ridge.

The development adds another layer of tension to negotiations aimed at maintaining the ceasefire and reducing the risk of a wider confrontation.

Fifteen Hurt In Rmadiyeh

One of the most serious attacks took place in Rmadiyeh, where a strike hit a building sheltering people displaced from other parts of southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said one person was killed and 15 were wounded. The casualties included children, women and rescuers who were responding to the attack.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of displaced families and emergency workers in areas that have already suffered extensive destruction.

Truce Remains Fragile

The latest strikes demonstrate that the ceasefire has not ended military activity along the Israel-Lebanon front.

The current conflict intensified in March after Hezbollah entered the wider regional confrontation by attacking Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with airstrikes and ground operations across parts of Lebanon.

A framework agreement and US-backed diplomatic efforts in June helped reduce the intensity of fighting, but Israeli strikes and military operations have continued.

The latest escalation comes as Lebanon and Israel remain divided over Hezbollah’s weapons and Israel’s military presence in parts of southern Lebanon. Reuters reported that negotiations over the future of the area and Hezbollah’s disarmament remain stalled.

UN Warns Of Hardships

The continuing violence has added pressure on Lebanese communities attempting to return home after months of fighting.

UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza warned that families returning to Nabatieh face widespread destruction, limited basic services and continuing insecurity.

The situation is particularly difficult for displaced people who have returned to areas where homes and infrastructure remain damaged and where fresh military activity continues.

The latest strikes also come as international efforts seek confidence-building measures between Israel and Lebanon. On Friday, Israel released several Lebanese and Syrian detainees as part of a US-mediated arrangement, highlighting the parallel diplomatic efforts taking place despite continuing violence.

What Happens Next

The immediate concern is whether the latest Israeli strikes will trigger a renewed escalation with Hezbollah.

Israel has maintained that its military operations are intended to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding military infrastructure near the border. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has rejected efforts to force it to surrender its weapons while Israeli forces remain in Lebanese territory.

The deaths and injuries reported on Friday are likely to increase pressure on mediators to reinforce the ceasefire and address unresolved security arrangements.

With negotiations still underway, the latest Israel-Lebanon conflict shows that the truce remains vulnerable to further military escalation.