Series of Israeli strikes on Nabatieh kill 1, injure several

SOUTH LEBANON — A series of Israeli drone strikes hit the Nabatieh district on Friday, killing one person and wounding several others, as Israeli attacks continued across southern Lebanon despite ongoing preparations for the implementation of the U.S.-mediated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The deadliest strike targeted a car in the Doha area of Kfar Roummane, where an Israeli drone killed the driver after he was transported to hospital. Earlier in the day, two people were injured in a drone strike on a van collecting rubbish between Shoukin and Kfar Dajjal. Another strike on Kfar Roummane critically injured one person, while Israeli drones also targeted Nabatieh Fawqa, including the al-Hariq neighborhood near Kfar Tibnit (all located in Nabatieh), and carried out a second strike on the Doha area.

Elsewhere in the South, several residents sustained minor injuries in an Israeli drone strike on the Shebaa Heights. Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Deir Siryan after earlier targeting the Hujeir Valley, while overnight explosions carried out by the Israeli army in Khiam (all located in Marjayoun) were heard across the region.

Israeli drones also dropped stun grenades on the villages of Haddatha (Bint Jbeil), Mansouri and Buyut al-Sayyed (both located in Sour). Israeli forces also carried out machine-gun fire with medium-caliber weapons from the town of Bayyada toward the town of Buyut al-Sayyed (Sour), our correspondent reported.

Aoun, Haykal review security situation in the South

The continued attacks came as President Joseph Aoun met with Lebanese Army commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal to review the security situation in southern Lebanon and preparations for implementing the framework agreement reached during the fifth round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

According to the presidency, discussions focused on preparations for the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the so-called "pilot zones," where troops are expected to deploy simultaneously with an Israeli withdrawal and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. The first two "pilot zones" are planned around Froun, in the Bint Jbeil district, and Zawtar, north of the Litani River.

On Thursday, Aoun reiterated the need to consolidate the cease-fire in southern Lebanon and urged international pressure on Israel to halt its military operations, aerial bombardments and demolitions in occupied border villages.

Beirut has conditioned its participation in the next round of negotiations with Israel, scheduled for July 15 and 16 in Rome, on an Israeli withdrawal from the two "pilot zones." According to a U.S. official, the first phase of the "pilot zone" mechanism is expected to begin in the coming days.

Reporting contributed by our correspondent in the South, Muntasser Abdallah