Three people were killed and one wounded on Thursday in an Israeli attack that struck a car in Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon. The incident occurred on the road between Zawtar and Mayfadoun, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA). The attack comes as Israeli and Lebanese officials are concluding three days of ceasefire talks in Washington, D.C.

These ongoing Israeli strikes highlight the fragile nature of the existing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Nabatieh, described the situation as tense, with the Israeli army continuing to target individuals and areas in front-line villages. These villages are located on the outskirts of Nabatieh and along territory occupied by Israel.

NNA also reported that Israeli forces set fire to several houses in the town of Ain Arab after issuing evacuation warnings to residents. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health has reported that since the conflict began on March 2, a total of 4,230 people have been killed and 12,179 others have been wounded.

Khodr explained that the Israeli military's continued targeting of these villages, which they were unable to occupy during previous fighting, serves to maintain control through fire. This strategy is seen as a tactic to increase leverage in ongoing negotiations regarding the potential handover of occupied territory.

U.S.-backed ceasefire talks have been underway in Washington, focusing on the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories in southern Lebanon and their handover to the Lebanese military. A U.S. State Department official indicated that Israel had made a "concrete step" by pulling back from a section of the buffer zone, a move seen as progress in the negotiations.

However, a senior Israeli defense official denied any such pullback, asserting that Israel would not withdraw from its established buffer zone. This conflicting information underscores the complexities and potential sticking points in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The conflict has led to significant destruction, with residents in villages like Srifa seen walking past the rubble of homes and businesses damaged in previous Israeli strikes. The situation remains precarious, with the threat of continued hostilities looming despite diplomatic engagements.

Questions remain about the sincerity of Israeli withdrawals and the ultimate success of the Washington talks in establishing a lasting peace. The continued violence on the ground complicates efforts to de-escalate and rebuild trust between the involved parties.