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Israel launched fresh strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, with the military saying the attacks came in response to a "blatant violation of the ceasefire" by Iran-backed Hezbollah, just hours after Israeli and Lebanese officials wrapped up U.S.-sponsored talks in Rome.
The Israeli military announced it had begun carrying out "precise strikes" against targets in southern Lebanon. "In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organization, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon," the military said.
Ahead of the attacks, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning, telling residents of the southern Lebanese village of Al-Mansouri to move north immediately.
"In light of Hezbollah's violations of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to act... For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north," Arabic-language military spokeswoman Ella Waweya wrote on X.
Hours later, an Israeli drone strike hit the roof of a prayer hall at a cemetery in the southern town of Tebnine, killing one person and injuring 11 others, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Separately, NNA reported that around 15 civilian families remaining in Al-Mansouri left the village after the Israeli evacuation order.
Israel's announcement came after an explosive device detonated near an Israeli force in the Majdal Zoun area of southern Lebanon. Local media reported that the blast caused casualties among Israeli troops, with four seriously wounded soldiers evacuated by military helicopter to Rambam Hospital.
The Israeli military did not immediately release an official casualty toll.
The renewed violence unfolded despite a U.S.-brokered framework agreement signed by Beirut and Tel Aviv on June 26, calling for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of armed groups, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah.
Wednesday's meeting in the Italian capital marked the second day of the second round of negotiations hosted by Rome. Five previous rounds were held in Washington as part of the U.S.-sponsored diplomatic process, with Beirut seeking a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, Israel's military campaign in Lebanon since March 2 has killed 4,333 people and injured 12,250 others.
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