Israel intensifies southern Lebanon attacks amid planned IDF withdrawal from pilot zones

Israeli forces escalated attacks across southern Lebanon during the night, employing drones, tanks, artillery and deliberately setting fire to residential buildings despite a U.S.-mediated cease‑fire agreement. The offensive has resulted in a reported death toll of more than 4,300 people since early March, with thousands more injured.

In parallel, Israel and Lebanon are moving forward with a framework agreements signed in Washington that call for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to withdraw from two small pilot zones in the south. U.S. Central Command is coordinating the pull‑out, which is expected to begin in the coming days, after which Lebanese armed forces will assume control of the areas.