Israel said on Friday it had carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon after four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in an attack on an Israeli tank near the Lebanese village of Tebnit.
The incident marked the first Israeli military fatalities since Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire earlier this month, raising concerns over renewed escalation along the border.
According to an Israeli military official, a “suspicious target” struck an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank overnight, killing the four soldiers. In response, the Israeli military launched strikes on what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatieh region and other areas of Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 33 others injured in the Israeli strikes, warning that the death toll could rise as ongoing attacks were hindering rescue operations.
The clashes pose an early challenge to a U.S.-Iran peace agreement signed earlier this week, with fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatening efforts to ease tensions in the region. U.S. and Iranian officials announced the postponement of talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, while U.S. Vice President JD Vance also delayed a planned visit linked to the negotiations.
The renewed violence came despite a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for all parties, including Israel and Hezbollah, to respect the ceasefire and avoid actions that could jeopardize diplomatic efforts.
Following the deaths of the soldiers, senior members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government called for a stronger military response against Hezbollah.
Since March, at least 34 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed in attacks attributed to Hezbollah, according to Israeli figures. On the Lebanese side, nearly 4,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
