Lebanon said Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed 11 people, including three children, on Saturday in the deadliest attacks since agreements reached in June helped ease hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said the early morning strikes were carried out in response to an attack by the Iran-backed group on its troops in southern Lebanon.
The escalation came as Israel and Lebanon prepared for an eighth round of U.S.-sponsored direct negotiations, expected to take place early next month in Rome.
The two sides agreed to a framework deal during talks in Washington in June. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Saturday's attacks were "a clear message" about the negotiations and U.S. efforts to implement the agreement.
Hezbollah said the Israeli strikes "will be met with an appropriate response" and called on Lebanese authorities to abandon what it described as the "humiliating path of direct negotiations."
