• The latest cycle of Rome talks between Lebanon and Israel has concluded, with the US State Department characterising the discussions as “fruitful”.

Israeli air strikes hit southern Lebanon again as ceasefire talks stall

Israeli forces have launched a second consecutive day of air strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting the town of Mansouri after an explosion killed two Israeli soldiers near Majdel Zoun.

Residents describe widespread destruction, damaged homes and renewed displacement as violence escalates despite ongoing US-backed ceasefire talks in Rome. Israel says its military operations are a response to violations of the ceasefire agreement, while Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the explosion.

The negotiations have shown little sign of progress, with Israel insisting on Hezbollah’s disarmament before any further troop withdrawals from southern Lebanon.

Lebanese army units clear roads in south Lebanon’s Tyre district

Lebanese army units entered the town of al-Mansouri in the Tyre District overnight to begin clearing roads blocked by recent Israeli air strikes, the National News Agency (NNA) reports.

The military worked to clear the thoroughfares and facilitate the safe return of residents displaced by Israel’s attacks, NNA added.

Israeli forces continue attacks in southern Lebanon

Israeli forces have carried out bombings in Wadi al-Hujeir, southern Lebanon, the country’s National News Agency (NNA) reports.

Earlier this morning, the NNA reported Israeli artillery shelling targeting the town of Meiss el-Jabal, which coincided with machinegun fire towards the town.

It also reported that Israeli drones were flying over Beirut and its suburbs.

Lebanese soldier wounded after Israeli attack on al-Mansouri

The Lebanese army says one of its soldiers was “slightly injured” due to an Israeli attack on an army bulldozer, the country’s NNA reports.

In a statement, the army said the attack took place in the town of al-Mansouri, Tyre, southern Lebanon, while it was working to open roads and remove rubble.

Israeli military fire upon water-utility workers in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil, says Lebanese state media

Lebanon’s National News Agency has reported several new Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, including one that it said targeted a team of water- utility workers in Bint Jbeil, as they repaired the local water network.

Elsewhere, NNA said the Israeli military fired artillery on the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, towards Mayfadoun, and also set off an explosion near a mosque in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

Lebanon and Israel agree list of countries to oversee Hezbollah disarmament under US-brokered deal

Lebanon and Israel have agreed a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah under a US-brokered deal, according to Lebanese officials.

“We have reached a shortlist of countries,” an unnamed Lebanese official told Reuters on Friday. “The Americans will now decide and could pick more than one country.”

The list was drawn up during talks between the two sides at the US embassy in Rome this week, the seventh round of negotiations on implementing the June 26 agreement that would see Israel’s phased withdrawal from Lebanon contingent on Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Hezbollah is not a party to the agreement and has refused to surrender its arsenal.

House catches fire as Israel shells Lebanon’s al-Mansouri: Lebanese state media

The southern Lebanese town of al-Mansouri has come under “intense” Israeli artillery shelling, reports Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

The attack caused a house in the town to catch fire, according to NNA.

Israel shells Lebanon’s Ali al-Taher heights: State media

Israeli forces are intensively shelling the Ali al-Taher heights on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Israel’s war on Lebanon has killed 4,335, Health Ministry says

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health has announced that the Israeli attacks, beginning March 2 – four days after the US and Israel attacked Iran – have killed at least 4,335 people and wounded 12,273 others.

The Israeli army continues to occupy swaths of land in southern Lebanon, which has displaced millions of Lebanese, and attack villages despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Lebanon and Israel to end the conflict. However, Hezbollah is not part of these talks.