Israel vows 'no return' for displaced residents, as strikes kill Lebanese soldier, civilians

Israeli strikes killed at least three people in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, with several wounded taken to hospital, the country's National News Agency reported, as Israel said that the hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced in the war will not be able to return to their homes.

One Lebanese soldier was killed and four others wounded by an Israeli strike near the southern city of Nabatieh, the Lebanese army announced.

The soldiers, struck while travelling by car and motorcycle, were taken to hospital, the army said in a post on X. 

Parts of Greater Beirut were also targeted by Israeli strikes early on Tuesday, hitting three neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of the capital.

The strikes come amid intensifying Israeli attacks across Lebanon, which have killed more than 880 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel's military, which has occupied five positions in southern Lebanon since a November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah, sent additional forces into the country as part of what it called "limited" incursions into Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities said more than one million people have registered as displaced since 2 March, with more than 130,000 people staying in around 600 collective shelters.

The Israeli military has issued sweeping forced evacuation orders for southern Lebanon, extending more than 40 kilometres (around 25 miles) from its border.

Israeli Defence Minister Katz warned that displaced Lebanese should not return home "south of the Litani area until the safety of residents in the north (of Israel) is guaranteed" - a warning that has raised fears of plans for a prolonged Israeli occupation of the south.

On Monday evening, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation reported that Israeli forces are planning to begin demolishing the first row of homes near the border in southern Lebanon as part of the ground invasion announced by Katz. 

Amid Israel's escalating assault on Lebanon, the UN has warned that attacks on residential buildings raise concerns under international law.

"Israeli air strikes have destroyed entire residential buildings in dense urban environments with multiple members of the same family, including women and children often killed together," UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.

As Israel steps up its ground assault on Lebanon, Hezbollah has claimed several attacks on Israeli army positions.

The group said on Monday it had targeted Israeli troops in the town of Khiam, the first claimed operation in the town since Israel said it launched a limited ground invasion.

In a statement, the group said that it "targeted a gathering of Israeli enemy army soldiers in Khiam... with a rocket salvo".

Early on Tuesday, Hezbollah said it had targeted Israeli forces in several other areas with rocket fire and artillery shells, while also claiming hits on at least five Israeli Merkava tanks.

With Israel escalating its attacks and broadening its ground invasion, the chances of ceasefire talks appear slim, however reports in both Israeli and Lebanese media have mentioned the possibility of talks, with no date set.

Meanwhile, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK warned in a joint statement on Monday that a large-scale Israeli ground offensive on Lebanon would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict.