Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes after midnight into Friday killed 47 people and wounded 97, while the Israeli military said four soldiers were killed in an incident in Lebanon, without giving further details.
The conflict in Lebanon could weigh on negotiations because ending fighting there is a condition for the broader U.S.-Iran accord.
A family with belongings loaded on their car, fleeing southern Lebanon again, heads north on Friday on the outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon, after returning following the U.S.-Iran deal, after fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah resumed overnight.
Zohra Bensemra, REUTERS
Issues still unresolved
A memorandum of understanding the Iranian and U.S. presidents signed this week left discussion of Iran’s nuclear program and other tough issues until later, giving the sides 60 days to reach a lasting agreement or extend the interim deal.
Preparations for technical talks to start in the Swiss mountaintop resort of Buergenstock were far advanced when the White House said Thursday that Vance would not attend.
The Swiss foreign ministry said the talks were postponed and Switzerland remained ready to facilitate them and preparatory work continued.
The broad interim deal requires the United States, Iran and their allies to declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Israel, left out of the talks, says it is not party to the deal.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Friday, said the U.S. would be responsible for violations of its commitments under the deal, including ending the fighting in Lebanon, his ministry said.
Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike Friday, seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon.
REUTERS
New round of Israel-Lebanon talks discussed
Lebanon was sucked into the regional war when Hezbollah opened fire at Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to launch an offensive against the group and invade the south of the country.