Israel continues strikes on Lebanon ahead of anticipated US-Iran peace deal

While violence has declined in Lebanon since a US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war was announced on Monday, Israeli strikes on the south have killed at least five people since the deal, according to Lebanese state media. Israeli forces have carried out fresh airstrikes on areas in southern Lebanon, which injured at least several people, state media reported, just days before a deal to end the US-Iran war is set to be finalised. According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Israeli warplanes launched raids targeting the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area and the eastern outskirts of the neighbouring town of Kfar Tebnit. Adding that a drone strike was also launched on the town of Ansariyeh in the Zahrani area. While violence has declined in Lebanon since a US-Iran agreement to end the Middle East war was announced on Monday, Israeli strikes on the south have killed at least five people, according to NNA. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in early March by firing rockets at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with a massive campaign of airstrikes and a ground invasion. Hezbollah has so far not issued any statements since Tuesday claiming attacks on Israeli targets in southern Lebanon. The group's leader, Naim Qassem, is expected to make a televised address on Wednesday. Continued attacks could jeopardise the US-Iran deal One of the biggest questions still hanging over the Iran deal is the fate of Lebanon. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that an end to the conflict would be incomplete "without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories it occupied in this war". "Any military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon from now on and the continued occupation of Lebanese territories from now on will be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding in our view," the minister said. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that his country's forces would remain in Lebanon "for as long as necessary". Israeli attacks in Lebanon have led to some tension between Israel and its ally, the United States, in recent days. US President Donald Trump criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “I have had a great relationship with Bibi. Now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.” “Without the US, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did,” Trump added. Trump has been pushing for a deal as he faces political blowback at home, where the war is unpopular and has driven up gasoline prices, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have previously jeopardised negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The deal has not yet been made public, and officials have sometimes offered contradictory interpretations of its contents. A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss outlines of the agreement, has said the deal does not call for an Israeli withdrawal. On the other hand, Pakistan, a main mediator, has said the deal called for an end to military operations, including in Lebanon, as Iran long insisted.