A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah The situation in Lebanon came under renewed pressure on Saturday after a new round of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a Lebanese army soldier and two children, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.The latest attack came less than 24 hours after a U.S.-Qatar-brokered ceasefire came into effect, raising new concerns about the viability of a broader Iran-U.S. peace framework that includes provisions aimed at ending hostilities in Lebanon.An Israeli airstrike on the Kfarremane roundabout killed a Lebanese Army soldier, NNA reported. Four members of the same family, including a father, mother and two children, were killed in separate attacks in the towns of Somur, Shibr and Barish in the Jezin district.The agency also reported airstrikes in the Hima Labaya area, drones flying at low altitudes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and a series of attacks in Kfarreman, Habboush, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Choukine, Zebdine and Kfarjouz. Civil defense teams and emergency rescue workers are continuing search and rescue operations, with reports that many people are still trapped under the rubble.The violence comes after Israel launched its deadliest wave of attacks on Lebanon since the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding was announced earlier this week. Four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in a Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon on Thursday night, leaving at least 18 people dead in Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese authorities.Although the ceasefire came into effect on Friday afternoon, Israel reportedly launched air strikes near the southern Lebanese town of Sajid shortly after, Lebanese media reported.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said military operations would continue despite the truce.IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Efe Devlin said: “These Hezbollah attacks violate the ceasefire agreement. They prove that Hezbollah’s goals remain the same: to remain on Israel’s borders and plan and carry out attacks against our civilians. This is not a reality we can accept, and it is why the IDF continues to operate in southern Lebanon. Recent events have made one thing clear: IDF soldiers must stand between Hezbollah and Israeli civilians.”“We will not wait for the next attack to strike our homes. We will continue to eliminate immediate threats, respond to Hezbollah’s violations and take all necessary measures to protect our civilians,” he added.Israel said its latest action was in response to a Hezbollah attack that killed four soldiers and wounded many others. The Israel Defense Forces claimed to have attacked more than 100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and eliminated dozens of militants.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the military action and vowed to take further action.“I express my heartfelt condolences to the commander of the 52nd Armored Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gadeliya Ben Simon, and to the families of the three heroic fighters whose names have not yet been released, may their bloodshed be avenged, and wish the wounded in yesterday’s exchange of fire a full recovery. Following Hezbollah’s heinous attack in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, I directed the Israel Defense Forces to attack Hezbollah with all its strength last night,” Netanyahu said.“The IDF struck more than 80 terrorist targets and eliminated dozens of terrorists. Subsequently, the IDF attacked Hezbollah’s headquarters in the Bekaa Valley this morning,” he added.He further warned: “This morning I conducted a situation assessment with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of General Staff. My instructions are clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory and will demand a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks.” As I made clear yesterday: Israel will remain in the southern Lebanese safe zone for as long as necessary to protect the settlements in the north.“The escalation also came with inflammatory remarks by Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who drew widespread criticism.“Every tear of an Israeli mother makes a thousand Lebanese mothers cry. All of Lebanon must be burned! ” Ben Gwire wrote on X.“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must show the world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens will not be lost. All of Lebanon must be burned.”“Enough with ping pong. In the Middle East, you don’t win through measured reaction and restraint – you need to go crazy. To exterminate. To suppress terror.”On the Lebanese side, Hezbollah leader Naeem Qasim said the group would continue to defend itself if attacked.“The plan to eliminate Hezbollah and consolidate the occupation has failed and the Israelis will withdraw from every inch of our land,” Qasim said in a televised address.He also accused Israel and the United States of trying to weaken Lebanon’s resistance and meddling in the country’s future.The new round of fighting threatens a key provision of the 14-point Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding, which calls for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations, including in Lebanon, while negotiations on a broader settlement continue.The violence came as technical talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland that were expected to focus on implementing the deal were also postponed. The delay heightened concerns that ongoing hostilities in Lebanon could undermine efforts to stabilize the region following a recent breakthrough in U.S.-Iran relations.For now, the ceasefire appears to remain largely on paper, with both Israel and Hezbollah accusing each other of violations while military operations on the ground continue. The latest attacks underscore the rapid rise of Lebanon’s frontline as one of the biggest tests facing the fragile peace process taking shape across the Middle East.
