Israel strikes Lebanon, testing days-old peace deal

Hezbollah calls the deal a surrender as Israeli forces stay put and continue striking the south.Israel has resumed air strikes on southern Lebanon, only days after signing a US-brokered agreement meant to end its war with the country.The strikes came on Sunday, two days after the framework was signed in Washington following five rounds of talks.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel orders troops to prepare for ‘extended stay’ in Lebanonlist 2 of 3Iran war day 121: IRGC hits Kuwait, Bahrain after US attacks near Hormuzlist 3 of 3IRGC doubles down as Iran-US MoU jeopardised by Hormuz strikesend of listEach side is presenting the same document as a victory on its own terms, and the deal has been rejected by Hezbollah and by far-right Israelis, raising immediate doubts over whether it can hold.Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported a series of attacks in the south on Sunday, a day after the Lebanese Ministry of Health said one person was killed in an Israeli attack there, the first death since the deal was signed.Israeli aircraft were also active, with NNA reporting drones flying over the northeastern city of Baalbek and warplanes staging what residents described as a mock raid over nearby highlands.Israel said its forces were targeting members of Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, near the buffer zone its troops occupy inside the country.The Israeli military also announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in the south. It named him as Captain David Hazutt, 21, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade, an elite infantry unit, and said a second soldier was lightly wounded.Israel’s military chief approved continued operations in the zone, saying they were in line with the ceasefire.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called the agreement “historic” and “a massive blow to Iran and Hezbollah”.