Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Lebanon Just After Ceasefire
Israel’s military carried out a precision airstrike campaign against southern Lebanon, targeting several towns around Nabatieh. The attack was launched less than 24 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran‑backed Hezbollah group.
According to the Lebanese state news agency, at least eleven people were killed when Israeli warplanes, drones and heavy artillery struck a dozen areas. Israeli officials said the strikes hit “Hezbollah terrorist targets” after the group fired more than fifty projectiles at Israeli forces.
The United States has criticized Israel’s operations in Lebanon, warning that the fighting could undermine the recently negotiated US‑Iran peace deal. Washington’s position echoes concerns that continued hostility in the region may spill over into the broader de‑escalation framework, which includes a clause to end fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.
US envoy Steve Witkoff is set to travel to Switzerland for initial talks with Iran, aiming to cement the agreement. The timing of the Israeli airstrikes raises questions about whether the recent ceasefire will hold.
Senior Hezbollah official Hassan Fadlallah has stated that the group retains the right to retaliate against any Israeli attacks. He warned that the Hezbollah forces will continue their campaign should Israel’s operations persist.
In March, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel to protest a strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader. Israel responded by bombing the southern part of Lebanon, occupying around five percent of the country’s territory in the south and aiming to push back Hezbollah fighters near its northern border.
Around a million displaced residents remain in Lebanon, with many communities in the south having been completely destroyed. The continuing conflict has left the region in a precarious state, with the potential to reshuffle regional alliances and global diplomatic efforts.
