An Israeli air strike killed seven people and wounded three in southern Lebanon early Saturday, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), as Israel intensified attacks across several towns and villages. The strike, which destroyed a house on the outskirts of Ansar in the Nabatieh district, is the deadliest reported Israeli attack in Lebanon since agreements in June significantly reduced hostilities.

Emergency teams worked to clear rubble and transfer the casualties to hospitals in Nabatieh. The incident occurred amid a reported intensification of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon overnight.

NNA reported a series of Israeli air strikes on the Ali al-Taher Ridge near Nabatieh al-Fawqa. Additional strikes hit areas near the teachers’ training centre and the Husseini club in Nabatieh al-Fawqa. The valley between Ansar and Zarariyeh was also targeted, which NNA described as the deepest strike into southern Lebanon since a ceasefire two months prior.

The implications of this escalation are significant, potentially jeopardizing the fragile peace established by a US-Iran memorandum of understanding and a subsequent US-sponsored framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. This framework aims for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon.

Violence had decreased considerably following the June agreements. However, Israeli attacks and demolitions have persisted in the south. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticized Lebanese authorities on Friday for their handling of the framework's implementation, accusing them of pressuring the army while Israeli strikes continued.

Qassem questioned the authorities' approach, stating, "How can you accept this ongoing humiliation of the Lebanese army, exposing it to bombardment and Israeli pressures, instead of acting as its protectors?"

Further complicating the situation, Israeli forces reportedly destroyed several homes in Bint Jbeil and fired heavy machine guns towards houses along the Kounine-Saf al-Hawa road. An Israeli air attack also struck the al-Mashaa neighbourhood in al-Mansouri before midnight.

These renewed hostilities raise questions about the durability of the de-escalation efforts and the future of the US-brokered framework agreement, especially given the ongoing tensions and criticism from Hezbollah.