Israeli airstrikes and evacuation warnings intensified across southern Lebanon on Friday, highlighting the fragility of ongoing U.S.-backed efforts to restore a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as political divisions over the proposed truce emerged in both Lebanon and Israel.

The escalation came despite continued diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a sustainable ceasefire and preventing a broader regional conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told ministers that no formal agreement currently exists because Hezbollah has yet to accept the terms of a ceasefire framework negotiated by Israeli and Lebanese delegations during talks in Washington.

According to Israel's Ynet news outlet, ministers criticized the proposed ceasefire arrangement during a cabinet meeting and demanded that it be submitted for approval before Israel formally accepted it. Netanyahu, however, refused to hold a vote.

“At the moment, there is no deal,” Netanyahu reportedly told ministers. “Hezbollah is opposed, and therefore I am not making a decision. If it agrees, I will bring it for your approval.”

The remarks came after Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem appeared to reject the U.S.-brokered proposal, declaring that the group would continue launching attacks on northern Israel as long as Israeli strikes persisted in Lebanon.

As diplomatic efforts stalled, the Israeli military expanded its operations in southern Lebanon and issued a series of evacuation warnings to civilians.

Israeli military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents of Aarnaya (Arnabeh), Aanqoun and Kfarfila, instructing them to evacuate immediately and move at least one kilometer away from their homes.

“In light of the Hezbollah terror organization’s violations of the ceasefire agreement and its targeting of Israel’s home front, the IDF is forced to act against it with force, especially in your areas,” Adraee said in a statement posted on X.

“The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must immediately evacuate your homes and move at least 1,000 meters away to open areas. Anyone near Hezbollah operatives, facilities or military assets is putting their life at risk,” he added.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Aanqoun, one of the towns covered by the warning, is sheltering around 2,500 displaced people.

Following the warning, the municipality of Aanqoun instructed displaced residents to relocate to the vehicle inspection center in Ghazieh, while local residents were directed to move to the areas of Zeita and Tanbourit. Municipal authorities urged full compliance with the evacuation measures.

Residents noted that Arnabeh is not a separate town but rather a neighborhood within Maghdoucheh and that no displaced people are currently living there. They said it was the first time the area had received such an Israeli warning.

The NNA reported heavy displacement from both Arnabeh and Aanqoun following the evacuation orders.

In a separate warning, Adraee called on residents of Sarafand, Tafahata, Babliyeh, Qaqaiyet El Snoubar, Marwaniyeh and Saksakiyeh to leave immediately and move north of the Zahrani River.

“Because Hezbollah has violated the ceasefire agreement and attacked the Israeli home front, the military is forced to act powerfully against it, particularly in your areas,” he said. “The army does not intend to harm you. For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River. Anyone near Hezbollah operatives, facilities or military assets is endangering their life.”

Shortly after the warnings were issued, Israeli warplanes and drones carried out a series of strikes across southern Lebanon and the Nabatieh region.

A strike targeted a vehicle in Kfar Remman in the Nabatiyeh district, with preliminary reports indicating one fatality. Another Israeli drone struck a pickup truck in Deir al-Zahrani.

Israeli warplanes also targeted a commercial center in Saksakiyeh that had previously been hit. Initial reports indicated no casualties.

Additional strikes hit Sarafand, Kafra, Mifadoun, the outskirts of Zefta and Marwaniyeh, Kawthariyet al-Siyad and Deir al-Zahrani. Another attack targeted a vehicle in the Housh area of the Tyre district, with reports of one person killed.

Israeli aircraft were also reported flying at very low altitude over Nabatieh while deploying heat-decoy flares.

Earlier in the day, Israeli warplanes struck the towns of Aabba, Harouf and Doueir in the Nabatieh district, as well as the Barak area in the Sidon district and Majdel Zoun in the Tyre district.

A drone strike at dawn targeted a motorcycle on the Habboush road, wounding one person.

Israeli artillery shelling also hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Deir Kifa and Kfar Remman. Separately, a strike on a building near Jabal Amel Hospital wounded 12 people, according to local reports.

The Israeli military also announced that it had killed Abed Harb, whom it identified as the commander of Hezbollah’s engineering unit, in an airstrike last week.

According to the military, Harb was responsible for assembling and deploying explosive devices intended to target Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon and had been involved in numerous attacks against Israeli soldiers over the years.

The military said Harb was targeted after he allegedly attempted to attack Israeli forces.

Separately, the Israeli army said the Air Force struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher overnight that had been used to fire rockets at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. The military released footage of the strike.