Israeli forces have carried out fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to local state media, despite renewed criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over Israel’s military actions in the country.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday that Israeli warplanes targeted the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area and the outskirts of nearby Kfar Tebnit. The Israeli military had not issued an immediate statement at the time of reporting, although it has previously maintained that its operations are aimed at the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
While the full text of the recently announced U.S.-Iran peace agreement has not yet been made public, Pakistan, which helped mediate the deal, has indicated that Lebanon is covered under its provisions.
On Tuesday, Trump publicly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.”
Speaking during the G7 summit in France, Trump said Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah had lasted too long and resulted in excessive loss of life.
Since the U.S.-Iran agreement was announced on Sunday night, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued exchanging attacks.
Earlier on Sunday, an Israeli airstrike on Beirut—carried out in response to a cross-border rocket attack allegedly launched by Hezbollah—raised concerns about efforts to finalize the peace agreement.
Trump told reporters at the G7 summit that although he maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu, he was unhappy with the scale of Israel’s latest military actions.
“I didn’t like that he did an attack… that was too much,” Trump said.
He added: “Without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did.”
Netanyahu, however, reiterated on Monday that Israeli troops would remain in Lebanon “for as long as necessary.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned that Tehran would consider any new Israeli attacks on Lebanon—or the continued presence of Israeli forces on Lebanese territory—as a breach of the interim agreement reached with the United States.
Although details of the memorandum of understanding remain undisclosed, both sides are expected to formally sign the agreement on Friday at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, according to Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry.
Trump has indicated that he may personally unveil the contents of the agreement, saying he would likely hold a press conference to read it “word by word.”
The U.S. president also stated that the deal would ensure Iran “never have a nuclear weapon” and would reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a “toll-free” shipping route.
Trump further argued that the agreement was more favorable than the nuclear deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama.
“We didn’t pay for it like Obama did. He paid billions of dollars,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear activities and allow international inspections in exchange for sanctions relief and access to frozen assets.
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