Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report from Tasnim News Agency on Saturday. This development comes after the country suspended talks with the US to reach a peace deal after Israel launched strikes at Lebanon.
Israeli air strikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon killed at least five people on Saturday, according to Lebanese state media.
ALSO READ: Netanyahu Vows Israel Will Stay In Southern Lebanon Security Zone 'As Long As Required'
Iran's joint military command said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz for shipping transit due to what it said was a violation of the ceasefire by Israel, as per the semi-official Tasnim news agency reports cited by Bloomberg.
Iran said that the attacks were in “bad faith” and a “clear breach of its commitments”, according to AP News Agency who cited a statement from Iranian state TV.
The statement said, "if the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned.”
Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out a series of overnight strikes across the Nabatieh region, targeting residential buildings and homes. Israeli artillery also shelled areas in and around Nabatieh before dawn, the report said.
The closure is Iran's first step in response to Israel's continued attacks in southern Lebanon, the report stated. The Iran delegation has travelled to Switzerland for US talks according to state TV.
ALSO READ: At Least Five Killed In Israeli Strikes On South Lebanon Hours After Ceasefire
The attacks occurred hours after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group took effect on Friday. The truce was brokered with the involvement of U.S. and Qatari mediators following a steep escalation in hostilities that had raised concerns about a broader regional conflict.
A U.S. official said the ceasefire came into force at 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Friday. The agreement was also confirmed by a senior Israeli official and two sources within Hezbollah, according to Reuters.
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