▲ Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Shimhon of the Israeli military, who was killed in an attack by Hezbollah
As armed clashes between the Israeli military and Lebanon's pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah intensified once again, follow-up negotiations on a peace agreement between the United States and Iran have ground to a sudden halt.
In particular, as Hezbollah's attacks caused significant casualties among Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon, a large-scale retaliatory strike by Israel is expected.
The Israeli military announced that a tank battalion commander and three soldiers were killed in action overnight on Friday (local time) due to a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon.
The fallen commander was identified as Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Shimhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade, along with three crew members who were in the same tank with him.
The Israeli military stated, "It is understood that a projectile, suspected to be a Hezbollah drone or an anti-tank missile, directly hit Lt. Col. Ben Shimhon's tank in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tebnit."
The Israeli military also stated that a few hours later in the same village, a reserve officer from a special forces unit was seriously injured in a Hezbollah suicide drone attack, while four others, including a reserve non-commissioned officer and soldiers, sustained minor injuries.
The Israeli military also announced that it launched intense airstrikes on more than 80 Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon from Thursday night to Friday morning, just one day after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war.
Hezbollah command centers, rocket launchers, and other infrastructure were the primary targets, and military authorities added that dozens of Hezbollah fighters were eliminated in the airstrikes.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israeli airstrikes targeting 11 small towns have killed at least 18 people and injured 33 others so far.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health also projected that the casualty toll is expected to rise further, noting that the airstrikes disrupted rescue operations by authorities and made it difficult for residents to flee.
The Israeli military explained that its airstrikes were a response to repeated ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
As Hezbollah's attacks caused significant casualties on the Israeli side, the likelihood of a massive retaliatory strike by the Israeli military has increased, which is consequently impacting the peace agreement and subsequent negotiations between the United States and Iran.
The armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is the biggest risk factor that could adversely affect the peace agreement and the progress of follow-up negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Citing the clause on "guaranteeing Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty" in the MOU, Iran is demanding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, arguing that Israel's refusal to withdraw would render the MOU null and void.
On the other hand, Israel maintains the position that it will keep its troops stationed in southern Lebanon and continue operations until the security threat posed by Hezbollah is completely eliminated.
Indeed, amid the armed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the first working-level talks between the United States and Iran, which were scheduled to be held in Switzerland on Friday, were ultimately called off.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament and the head of the Iranian negotiating team, warned that negotiations with the United States will only take place within the red lines set by the Iranian government.
Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah lawmaker, told Reuters, "Iran has notified us of its position that it cannot continue talks with the United States without the implementation of a comprehensive ceasefire."
Israel also maintains that it cannot back down.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a Hebrew statement, "In response to Hezbollah's criminal attacks violating the ceasefire, I have ordered strong strikes against Hezbollah," adding, "Israel will never tolerate attacks on our soldiers or territory, and we will make Hezbollah pay a heavy price."
Netanyahu reaffirmed his previous stance, saying, "Israel will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone as long as necessary to protect the residents of our northern region."
Immediately after the announcement that Israeli soldiers had been killed in the Hezbollah attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a prominent far-right figure in Israel's ruling coalition, said, "With all due respect to the United States, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood spilled by our soldiers and the security of our citizens can never be a bargaining chip," adding, "All of Lebanon must burn."
(Photo: Israeli Military, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.