Israeli Shelling Hits Southern Lebanon Amid Diplomatic Talks

Israeli artillery and drone strikes targeted several towns in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, including Hadata, Barchait, and Al-Mansouri, as a diplomatic push for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel continues. The military actions occurred ahead of anticipated military talks scheduled between October 20 and 22 in Tampa, Florida, as part of a broader US-brokered negotiation process. Israeli aircraft also conducted low-altitude flights over the Lebanese coast, and a D9 bulldozer reportedly advanced into Lebanese territory near Kafr Shuba, constructing an earth barrier before withdrawing.

In a separate incident, residents of a building in the town of Kafr Kerman, Nabatieh district, were reportedly warned of a threat via a phone call attributed to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. The local municipality evacuated the building as a precautionary measure while the threat was being investigated.

Politically, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Khalil briefed President Joseph Aoun on his recent meetings in New York and Washington concerning the ongoing developments in Lebanon and the region. Members of Parliament George Oikes and Ziad Hawat also discussed the general situation and regional developments, including the Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations, with President Aoun.

Meanwhile, Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces Party, stated that the "dismantling of Hezbollah is a necessity" for the establishment of a true state in Lebanon. He made these remarks during a forum organized by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, emphasizing the need to avoid deploying foreign forces in southern Lebanon as part of future security arrangements.