Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as Kuwait comes under fire in drone attack

The Israeli military fired a new wave of airstrikes in Lebanon on Thursday, while Kuwait briefly came under fire by drones in skirmishes that threaten to end the cease-fire with Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had fired missiles aimed at Hezbollah rocket-launching sites in southern Beirut that were allegedly going to be used to attack the Jewish state.

Despite agreeing to enter into negotiations with Lebanon — with a meeting reportedly planned in Washington next week — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks would not stop until the safety of Israel is assured.

“There is no cease-fire in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said, reiterating that the cease-fire with Iran does not include Hezbollah.

“We continue to strike Hezbollah with force, and we will not stop until we restore your security,” he told Israelis in a video statement. “Israel is stronger than ever, Iran is weaker than ever.”

Following the airstrikes in Lebanon, sirens blared in northern Israel, warning residents of likely incoming fire from Hezbollah.

Iran and Pakistan, which helped broker the cease-fire between Washington and Tehran, said that Hezbollah was included in the truce agreement, with Tehran warning that the continued attacks would be met with a strong response.

As the bombings in Lebanon resumed, Kuwait’s military said it was targeted by “hostile drones.”

The US ally said the unidentified UAVs entered the country’s airspace on Thursday and targeted “some vital facilities.”

Kuwait’s national guard reported damage to some buildings, but no injuries or casualties were recorded as a result of the attack.

The Gulf country, which had been constantly targeted by Iranian missiles and drones since the war began, had not been attacked in the first 24 hours after the cease-fire was secured.

The hostilities threaten to collapse the fragile, two-week cease-fire between the US and Iran, which are set to enter formal negotiations in Pakistan to secure a permanent peace deal.

President Trump, who backed the idea that Hezbollah is not included in the cease-fire deal, said he spoke to Netanyahu to ease Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.

“I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it,” Trump told NBC News on Thursday. “I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key.”

READ MORE: Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as Kuwait comes under fire in drone attack