At least 16 people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks targeting southern Lebanon on Friday, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), marking one of the deadliest escalations in recent weeks.

The strikes reportedly hit several towns across the Nabatieh district overnight and continued into the early hours of Friday. Local residents and Lebanese media described the bombardment as among the heaviest since the announcement of a U.S.-brokered understanding aimed at reducing regional tensions.

According to NNA, the attacks resulted in multiple casualties and caused extensive damage to residential areas and infrastructure. Emergency and civil defense teams were deployed to the affected locations to search for victims and assist the wounded.

The latest escalation comes just days after a U.S.-mediated interim agreement involving Iran called for an end to hostilities across regional fronts, including Lebanon, and emphasized respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tensions rose further after Israeli authorities published a map outlining an expanded military control zone in southern Lebanon, indicating that military operations could continue beyond the designated area. The move has fueled concerns in Lebanon regarding the future of the ceasefire framework and the possibility of renewed large-scale conflict.

A senior Israeli official said discussions were ongoing with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the continued deployment of Israeli occupation forces inside southern Lebanon. According to the official, Israel seeks to maintain troops approximately 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory as part of its operations against Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials and political leaders have repeatedly called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, stressing that any continued military presence constitutes a violation of the country's sovereignty.

The strikes occurred amid continued cross-border tensions between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. In recent days, Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Israeli military positions, while Israel has responded with airstrikes and artillery fire across southern Lebanon.

Observers warn that the latest violence threatens to undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region and could further complicate ongoing negotiations intended to prevent a broader regional conflict.

As international actors continue to push for de-escalation, residents of southern Lebanon remain caught in the middle of renewed hostilities, with fears growing that the fragile calm achieved in recent months may be rapidly unraveling. (ILKHA)