Israel strikes Rab Tlatine, Kfarkila, Blida and al-Bayyada

Israeli warplanes raided overnight into Monday the southern border towns of Rab Tlatine, Kfarkila, and Blida and struck al-Bayyada, deeper in the Tyre district.

The Israeli army later shelled Kfarkila with white phosphorus bombs, causing fires.

The Israeli military said Sunday that an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah crashed into the Golan Heights, severely wounding a soldier and lightly hurting 17 others.

It said Israeli warplanes and artillery units responded by striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Hopes are lagging for a cease-fire in Israel's war on Gaza that would calm attacks by Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied groups. With the stalled talks in mind, American and European diplomats and other officials are delivering warnings to Hezbollah — which is far stronger than Hamas but seen as overconfident — about taking on the military might of Israel.

On both sides of the Lebanese border, escalating strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, one of the region's best-armed fighting forces, appeared at least to level off this week. While daily strikes still pound the border area, the slight shift offered hope of easing immediate fears, which had prompted the U.S. to send an amphibious assault ship with a Marine expeditionary force to join other warships in the area in hopes of deterring a wider conflict.

The violence has killed 485 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 94 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed, according to authorities.