Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon killed at least 16 people on Saturday, raising fresh doubts about efforts to secure a ceasefire and threatening broader diplomatic initiatives in the region. The attacks came only hours after reports suggested progress toward a temporary halt in hostilities.
Several towns in the Nabatiyeh area were hit during the strikes, according to Lebanese media and local officials. Rescue teams continued searching damaged buildings for survivors, with reports indicating that multiple people remained trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Among the dead were members of the same family after a strike hit a home in the village of Barish. Additional fatalities were reported in Arab Salim, Doueir, Kfar Rumman, Qannarit, Sohmor, and Shehour as attacks continued across the south.
Columns of smoke were visible above several communities while Israeli aircraft remained active over Lebanese territory. Residents in the coastal city of Tyre said the sound of warplanes served as a reminder that the conflict remains far from over.
The latest violence follows heavy exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah that left dozens dead in Lebanon and several Israeli soldiers killed a day earlier. Mediators have been attempting to prevent the fighting from expanding further, but progress remains uncertain.
Hezbollah said it remains committed to a ceasefire framework while accusing Israel of carrying out repeated violations. The group stated that it would continue responding to attacks while maintaining its position on any agreed truce.
The ongoing conflict is also casting a shadow over recently announced diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. An interim understanding between the United States and Iran was intended to reduce regional tensions and create conditions for renewed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
Those diplomatic efforts have already encountered obstacles as planned talks in Switzerland were postponed amid the worsening security situation. Officials from both countries have delayed travel plans while mediators continue discussions through indirect channels.
Iran has insisted that meaningful negotiations cannot move forward while military operations continue in Lebanon. American officials have also signaled that further diplomatic steps will depend on stability on the ground and the preservation of regional security.
Despite the setbacks, both sides have indicated they remain interested in pursuing a broader agreement addressing nuclear issues, sanctions, and regional tensions. Analysts caution, however, that continued fighting in Lebanon could complicate negotiations and make a lasting deal more difficult to achieve.
