Israeli military says four soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon as fighting intensifies

Israel's military said Friday that intense fighting in southern Lebanon killed four soldiers.

The military identified one of the dead, a lieutenant colonel, and said the three others would be identified later.

Lebanon's state-run news agency says at least 16 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the south overnight.


The attacks came as planned talks in Switzerland between Iran and the United States over their efforts to reach a permanent end to the Iran war were delayed.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied with Hezbollah, reported that Iran was delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland over ongoing Israel's military campaign in Lebanon.

Israel maintains it must continue to hold the territory and have a free hand to battle Hezbollah as it has been launching attacks into northern Israel.