Israel launches fresh strikes on southern Lebanon as ceasefire frays VIDEO

Israeli forces carried out a series of airstrikes and artillery attacks across southern Lebanon overnight into August 6, as renewed hostilities threatened to undermine a fragile ceasefire and coincided with US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome.

The Israeli enemy escalated its attacks on the Tyre district, launching a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling from August 5 night into August 6 morning, Ahram Online reports.

According to the agency, four airstrikes hit the town of Burj al-Shamali, wounding at least four people. Israeli aircraft also carried out three strikes in and around Mansouri, while the area came under simultaneous artillery and tank fire. Residents of Mansouri had received evacuation warnings from the Israeli military on August 5 ahead of the attacks.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least one person was killed in August 5 strikes.

The latest escalation came a day after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement of violating the ceasefire agreement, saying the group's actions had forced Israel to respond militarily.

The Israeli military later announced that two reserve soldiers had been killed on August 5, marking Israel's first military fatalities in Lebanon since June 28.

The renewed violence unfolded as Israeli and Lebanese officials participated in U.S.-backed talks in Rome aimed at securing a lasting end to the conflict. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Israel requested that August 5 session conclude early, although discussions were expected to resume on August 4.

During earlier negotiations in June, the two sides agreed to a framework that envisages the disarmament of Hezbollah, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the area, beginning with designated "pilot zones."

Hezbollah, however, has consistently rejected the negotiations and refuses to disarm. Speaking on August 4, the group's leader Naim Qassem dismissed the direct talks, saying they would bring "nothing but shame, humiliation" and concessions for Lebanon.

Hezbollah entered the broader regional conflict on March 2, launching rockets into northern Israel in support of its ally, Iran. While violence had eased following the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement and the preliminary US-Iran understanding on the wider Middle East conflict, sporadic Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks have continued.

Since the outbreak of fighting in Lebanon, Israel's military has lost 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor, according to official figures.

By Vafa Guliyeva