Israeli forces on Thursday conducted a concentrated artillery barrage on Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, dismantling around 70 Hezbollah sites in just one minute.
According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), dozens of weapons, including RPGs, Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, grenades, an anti-aircraft missile, surveillance equipment and combat equipment were recovered from the sites.
In an additional operation, IDF soldiers eliminated dozens of Hezbollah fighters.
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The intense Israeli strikes in Lebanon came amid the ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war.
Ceasefire in Lebanon was among the key terms of a fragile two-week truce between the US and Iran. However, Israel has been targeting the country, claiming that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire.
The issue, along with Iran’s nuclear ambitions, were among the key sticking points during the first round of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad.
The talks were derailed after both sides failed to reach consensus on these two issues. Iran wanted an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and, in return, offered to stop its nuclear activities for five years.
However, the US pressed Iran for a 20-year ban on its nuclear program and also appeared non-committal on the Lebanon ceasefire issue, leading to the collapse of the peace talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has directed his Cabinet to begin direct negotiations with the Lebanese government as soon as possible.
Israel wants Lebanon to completely disarm Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy outfit. Netanyahu said that this was his key demand to start any ceasefire negotiations with Lebanon.