The Israeli army continued its attacks on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, carrying out a series of explosions in border towns as the sixth round of Rome talks between Lebanon and Israel entered its second day.
Israeli forces carried out a large explosion at around 3am (5am PKT) in the eastern neighbourhood of Khiam in Marjayoun district, before carrying out another blast in the town of Qantara in the same district later in the morning, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said.
The agency said Israeli forces also conducted wide-scale explosions targeting valleys and homes in the town of Beit Yahoun in Bint Jbeil district.
The blasts coincided with Israeli bulldozing of roads leading from Bint Jbeil city to the border town of Maroun al-Ras.
Separately, Israeli forces opened fire toward residents as they tried to check their orchards near the towns of Majdal Zoun and Mansouri in southern Lebanon. No injuries were reported.
Israeli drones also continued flying over Beirut and its southern suburbs.
The escalation came as the sixth round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel resumed in Rome under US sponsorship.
Read: Lebanon, Israel hold border talks in Rome
The Italian capital has been hosting a sixth round of direct negotiations since Tuesday, following five rounds in Washington, DC, that resulted in the signing of a framework agreement.
The framework deal provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory beginning with two “pilot areas.”
Earlier, a US State Department spokesperson also confirmed that the talks in Rome were “productive and held in a positive atmosphere.”
The agreement does not set a timetable for the withdrawal and links it to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in areas vacated by Israeli forces and the disarmament of non-state armed groups, with specific reference to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
The Rome talks come as Israel continues attacks in Lebanon, which have killed at least 4,324 people, injured 12,223, and displaced more than 1 million since March 2, according to official Lebanese figures.
Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023-24 war.
Lebanon’s Aoun backs US-sponsored framework as talks with Israel continue
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that a US-sponsored framework for negotiations with Israel is “the best possible option” and has already begun producing results, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency.
Aoun made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Orthodox Gathering.
Read more: Lebanon, Israel agree on creating ‘pilot zones’ to place Lebanese army in control
“Our goals are clear, and we will not be lenient when it comes to Lebanon’s rights,” he said.
Aoun said disagreement is legitimate but conflict is not, adding that dialogue among Lebanese should serve the national interest rather than personal agendas.
“Hatred does not build a state or institutions. It destroys,” he said.
“The road is not paved and there are difficulties, but hope is great for achieving results that end the bloodbath,” he added.
Marwan Abou Fadel, secretary-general of the Orthodox Gathering and a former lawmaker, said after the meeting that the group supports Aoun’s positions and efforts to pull Lebanon out of its crisis.“The road is not paved and there are difficulties, but hope is great for achieving results that end the bloodbath,” he added.
He said any attack on the presidency was an attack on the dignity of the nation and stressed that national unity and support for constitutional institutions were essential to protecting Lebanon during a delicate period.
The remarks came after the first day of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel concluded Tuesday in Rome following a seven-hour meeting at the US Embassy.
13 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza within 24 hours despite ceasefire
At least 13 Palestinians were killed and 18 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours despite a ceasefire, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Wednesday.
The attack came amid Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2025.
The ministry said the bodies of 13 Palestinians were brought to hospitals across the enclave, including 12 newly killed people and one person who died of earlier wounds.
It added that several victims remain trapped under rubble and on roads, as ambulance and civil defence teams are still unable to reach them.
Since the start of the ceasefire, the ministry said Israeli attacks have killed 1,123 Palestinians and injured 3,616 others, while 800 bodies have been recovered.
The ministry said the overall death toll from Israel’s assault on Gaza since October 8, 2023, has risen to 73,246, with 173,727 others injured in addition to widespread destruction affecting about 90% of civilian infrastructure.
