Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued on the ground in Lebanon as Israeli and Lebanese officials were set to meet in Washington later on Thursday for further US-mediated talks.
Hours before the two-day talks were due to kick off, Israel carried out several attacks in southern Lebanon, injuring at least nine in the town of Zibqin, near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported.
Further casualties were reported following an Israeli attack on the town of Aitit.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the reports.
It comes after the Lebanese Health Ministry reported late on Wednesday evening that six people had been killed near the city of Nabatieh, including three minors.
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is not part of the Washington talks, also claimed responsibility on Thursday morning for attacks on Israeli positions in Lebanon.
Meanwhile in northern Israel, several civilians were injured in a Hezbollah attack using an explosives-laden drone, according to the military.
Three people were injured in a parking lot in the coastal city of Rosh Hanikra, including two of them seriously, the ynet news outlet reported.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire in mid-April after an initial round of negotiations.
Lebanon itself is not a direct party to the conflict, and cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah has continued, with fatalities still reported on a near-daily basis. Nearly 400 people have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect.
The US State Department said the two-day talks aim to advance a “comprehensive peace and security agreement” addressing the core concerns of both countries.
Talks are also expected to cover the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty, the demarcation of borders, as well as mechanisms for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Lebanon, the State Department said.
It was not immediately clear who would represent the two sides. The meetings follow two rounds of direct talks at the ambassadorial level previously held in Washington.
Israel is seeking to lay the groundwork for a longer-term peace process, with a particular focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah, which opposes the talks.
The Lebanese government, meanwhile, is calling for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Israel says it has established a “security zone” in the area, while Lebanese officials describe it as an occupation.
The first round of negotiations was held on April 14, marking the first direct political-level talks between the two countries in decades.
