Hezbollah says it destroyed Israeli tanks as Lebanon reports 3 killed

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Beirut: Hezbollah said on Friday that its fighters destroyed three Israeli tanks and fought with Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, while Lebanese officials reported that Israeli airstrikes killed three civilians, indicating a severe increase in hostilities despite recent diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation.

The Iran-backed militia claimed it targeted Israeli troops and tanks near the key Ali al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon, adding that its forces inflicted fatalities during the conflict. The Israeli military confirmed that four of its soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, though it did not immediately respond to Hezbollah's allegations regarding the tanks.

Lebanon's health ministry said that three people were killed in Israeli strikes on Friday, while the Israeli military said it launched assaults on Hezbollah sites in response to what it characterised as repeated ceasefire violations. The violence comes amid ongoing exchanges of fire along the border, with both sides accusing the other of inciting the new hostilities.

The resumed fighting came barely a day after the US and Iran announced an interim agreement to stop hostilities in the Middle East, including Lebanon. The latest escalation has renewed concerns about the weak ceasefire's long-term viability and the prospects for broader regional peace.