Punjab Newsline | Tehran/Washington
A day after reports of a peace agreement between Iran and the United States, fresh violence erupted in the Middle East as Israel launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, killing at least 18 people.
The attacks have raised concerns over the future of regional stability, with Israel reportedly refusing to halt military operations despite provisions in the reported peace deal that called for an end to strikes on Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed it carried out airstrikes on more than 80 locations in southern and eastern Lebanon since Thursday night, targeting Hezbollah positions and killing dozens of its fighters. Meanwhile, Hezbollah reportedly launched retaliatory attacks that killed four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, further escalating hostilities.
Amid the renewed conflict, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a strong statement, saying that "all of Lebanon should burn," drawing widespread attention to the worsening rhetoric surrounding the conflict.
Separately, scheduled talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland were reportedly cancelled. According to US media outlet Axios, Israel's continued military campaign in Lebanon may have contributed to the postponement. CNN, citing a diplomatic source, reported that Iran insisted the US must first guarantee an end to Israeli strikes on Lebanon before any further negotiations can proceed.
