At least six killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon despite ceasefire

DUBAI - At least six people were killed, including a Lebanese soldier, in Israeli air strikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanese state media reported, just hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group took effect.

State news agency NNA said Israeli warplanes and drones carried out a series of strikes across the Nabatieh area overnight and into Saturday morning, destroying residential buildings and homes, while Israeli artillery shelled Nabatieh and its outskirts before dawn.

The Lebanese army said that the continuation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon aims to obstruct efforts to restore stability in the country.

An Israeli military official said the army has been striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon after the Lebanese armed group fired over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to the ceasefire on Friday following an escalation in hostilities in Lebanon, according to a US official.

A senior Israeli official and two Hezbollah sources confirmed the agreement to Reuters. The US official said the truce was to begin at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Friday.