At least 16 people in Lebanon were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight, Lebanese state-run news agency NNA reported on Friday morning.

The report described the attacks on multiple towns as among the heaviest bombardment in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said they were responding to ceasefire violations from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Israel, the US, Germany and many other nations consider Hezbollah a terrorist group. 

“During the night, the army struck and continues to strike Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement.

Amid fragile peace negotiations between the US and Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces will not withdraw from Lebanon until the Hezbollah threat is neutralized.

The scheduled meeting between the US and Iranian officials are “postponed” and will not be taking place on Friday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry has said, after US President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland.

 “Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks,” Swiss diplomats said, adding that “preparatory work” was continuing.

Previously, the Swiss government said the summit will be held at the luxurious mountaintop resort of Bürgenstock, in the Swiss Alps. 

The president of the US and Iran, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding without meeting in person.

Tehran was also delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland, according to Al Mayadeen, a pan-Arab Iran-backed, pro-Hezbollah satellite channel.

The news outlet said this was due to Israel continuing its campaign in Lebanon.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran foresees “permanent termination” of the fighting in Lebanon and calls for respecting the country’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

But Israel is not a party to the peace deal and has stated it has no intention of ending its offensive against the Hezbollah militia. Israeli forces control parts of Lebanon and have launched airstrikes on targets inside the country on Thursday. On Friday, Hezbollah said it destroyed three Israeli tanks.

Israel’s opposition to the peace deal and the prolonged fighting in Lebanon have triggered a public rift between the Trump administration and the Israeli government.

US Vice President JD Vance has postponed his trip to Switzerland where he was going to meet Iranian negotiators to discuss the implementation of the 14-point agreement reached between Washington and Tehran to end the war.

The team led by Vance had been ready to leave but was pushed back, the White House said, citing difficult logistics for negotiations.

“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight,” a White House spokesperson said late Thursday. “We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”

US officials wanted to hold a formal signing ceremony for the US-Iran agreement in Geneva, but Iran’s Foreign Ministry cast doubt on that, saying it was unnecessary after both countries’ presidents signed the agreement on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s signing of the deal extended the ceasefire for 60 days and opened up the pathway to negotiate on wider issues including Iran’s nuclear program.

But there has been uncertainty over the next steps as it appeared unlikely that the two countries would hold a signing ceremony and talks in Switzerland on Friday as previously announced.

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an initial agreement to extend the ceasefire for another 60 days and open the Strait of Hormuz.

The deal between Iran and the US was mediated by Pakistan. 

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who acted as a key mediator, said the deal entered into force with “immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance was expected to fly to Switzerland to advance talks with Iran over its nuclear program, however, his trip has been postponed.

Stay tuned for the latest developments on the Iran war.