Israeli military forces have escalated their assaults in southern Lebanon, demolishing homes and other buildings while conducting artillery bombardments and machine-gun fire across multiple locations.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that extensive machine-gun fire was directed at the towns of Khiam and Qantara on Friday. Residences were also set ablaze in Qantara.

The report added that the Israeli army carried out an explosion in the town of Tayri in the Bint Jbeil district, while 155-millimeter artillery shells targeted Wadi al-Hujeir toward the town of Touline.

Additionally, artillery shelling struck areas surrounding Kfar Shuba in the Arqoub region, the outskirts of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district, and Wadi Zibqin in the Tyre district.

The region between Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiya also came under sporadic artillery fire.

In another incident, Israeli forces detonated a house owned by Hassan Nabaa, a resident of Kfar Shuba, along the Kfar Shuba-Sedana Hill-Shebbaa road, obliterating its contents, the NNA reported.

Moreover, an interceptor missile detonated above the town of Taybeh, although no further details were provided.

Hezbollah chief says US-brokered framework with Israel illegitimate, rules out disarmament

Sheikh Naim Qassem has renewed his rejection of the US-backed deal with Israel, vowing that Hezbollah’s resistance will continue as long as Israeli occupation and aggression persist.

In a separate incident, communication was lost with a young man from Rub Thalathin after he exited his vehicle in the Wadi al-Hujeir area and proceeded on foot towards Qantara.

Hezbollah launched military operations against Israel on March 2 in response to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, repeated Israeli violations of the 2024 ceasefire, and Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory in the south.

Since then, despite months of negotiations, Israel has continued its military offensive against Lebanon.

On June 26, the Beirut government and the Tel Aviv regime signed a so-called Framework Agreement that outlines a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory that is under occupation, in return for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of resistance groups.

The agreement mentions the use of “pilot areas” for its implementation, but it has only been enacted in three towns, while over 50 towns continue to be occupied by Israeli forces.

Despite the accord, Israel has continued military offensives in Lebanon, killing at least 4,386 people and injuring 12,407 others since March 2. Additionally, more than 1 million people have been displaced.

Israel controls regions in southern Lebanon, with some areas occupied for decades and others since the 2023-2024 war. Israeli forces have pushed approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanese territory during the recent conflict.