Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill 18 as Israel says four soldiers killed by Hezbollah

Lebanon was drawn into the Israel-the-us-and-Iran" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="149137" data-entity-type="event">war between Israel, the US and Iran shortly after it began, with Hezbollah launching rockets into Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed Iran's supreme leader.Israel responded by launching a bombing campaign across Lebanon and invading a significant part of the country's south, with the aim of driving back Hezbollah fighters from its northern border. At least 3,783 people have been killed and 11,699 others wounded since the latest conflict began, according to Lebanon's health ministry.Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under domestic pressure to continue military operations against the armed group, which could put him on a collision course with US President Donald Trump, who has publicly criticised Israel's conduct in Lebanon.Responding to the deaths of the four soldiers on Friday, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that "all of Lebanon must burn"."With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining," he said in a statement.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Friday that Israel must "respect" the deal and urged the US to put pressure on the Israeli government.The Iran-agreement" class="entity-link entity-topic" data-entity-id="133526" data-entity-type="topic">US-Iran agreement signed on Thursday includes provisions on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and commits both sides to pursuing a final settlement within 60 days, a deadline that can be extended by mutual agreement.