Lebanon death toll exceeds 300 as Israel-Hezbollah fighting intensifies

Fresh clashes erupted between Israel and Hezbollah overnight. Israel conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, while the armed group fired rockets, triggering alerts in Tel Aviv and other areas.

Tensions are rising ahead of peace talks scheduled in Pakistan, where the issue of whether Lebanon will fall under the Iran-ceasefire agreement is expected to be discussed.

The Israeli Defense Forces said their air force struck Hezbollah rocket launch sites in Lebanon overnight.

Iran-backed Hezbollah said it fired rockets at various locations in Israel.

The clashes come at a time when US President Donald Trump was quoted as saying Israel would keep its operations in Lebanon more "restrained." Many believe Trump was calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise greater restraint.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, more than 300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the country on Wednesday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he reserves the right to retaliate on behalf of his country and its allies in response to US and Israeli strikes, according to a report on Iran's state TV Press TV on Thursday.

The statement also appeared to reference Lebanon's Hezbollah, a group Israel and the US claim is not covered by the ceasefire.

Source: BBC