Hezbollah Reports Fresh Clashes As Raad Urges Indirect Talks, Rejects Direct Negotiations

What happened

Lebanese source Naharnet reports that Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in fresh clashes with the Israeli military near the town of Kfar Tibnit in south Lebanon, hours after Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes killed three civilians in the area. Hezbollah described fighting against an Israeli military force attempting to advance from Arnoun towards Kfar Tibnit, saying the battles were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. These hostilities come despite a recent US-Iran agreement intended to de-escalate the Middle East conflict, including in Lebanon. Hezbollah’s statement highlighted repelling a four-day Israeli offensive targeting strategic positions near Nabatieh, including the Ali al-Taher hills, using drones, rockets, and artillery. Israel has not confirmed the details of this ground engagement but announced it would continue operations in southern Lebanon, including maintaining a security zone some 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory.

Lebanese official and head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Mohammad Raad said on Thursday that Israel’s war in Lebanon had ‘failed’ to eliminate Hezbollah and advocated for indirect negotiations to stop the fighting. Raad urged Lebanese authorities to seek indirect talks rather than direct negotiations with Israel, demanding compliance with a cessation of hostilities and Israeli withdrawal within 60 days. This position contrasts with Israel’s plans to maintain military presence in the south.

Known from the source

• Hezbollah reported fighting Israeli military near Kfar Tibnit and Arnoun on Thursday.
• Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes killed three people in south Lebanon on Thursday.
• Hezbollah said it repelled a four-day Israeli offensive near Ali al-Taher hills and Kfar Tibnit.
• The Israeli military announced one soldier killed and seven wounded in south Lebanon recently.
• UN peacekeepers have observed projectile exchanges attributed partly to both Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

What remains unclear

UN peacekeepers have reported exchanges of fire in the region, with projectile trajectories monitored on both sides. The Lebanese National News Agency stated that drones struck vehicles in Kfar Tibnit and Zebdine, killing three civilians according to their reporting. The Israeli military also confirmed the death of one soldier and injuries to seven during recent clashes in south Lebanon. Attribution of responsibility for the drone strikes and casualties remains unclear in the source material.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify exact casualty numbers and details of drone strikes in Kfar Tibnit and Zebdine. Confirm facts around the four-day Israeli offensive mentioned by Hezbollah. Clarify Israel’s official position on operations south of the Litani River.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Naharnet Lebanon. Open the source.