NEWS
Israeli Strikes Kill Scores in Southern Lebanon Hours After New Ceasefire Announcement
Several people have reportedly been killed by Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, less than 24 hours after a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced, raising fresh concerns over the fragile peace efforts aimed at ending months of deadly hostilities in the region.
Officials in the Nabatieh district said attacks had killed 16 people and injured at least a dozen more, after Israeli warplanes, drones, and artillery targeted numerous areas across southern Lebanon. The renewed bombardment came despite international hopes that a recently announced ceasefire would bring an immediate halt to fighting.
The Israeli military said it struck “Hezbollah terrorist targets” after the group fired over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in the region. The latest escalation has intensified fears that the conflict could spiral further, undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the United States.
Washington has criticised Israel’s ongoing operations in Lebanon, which was drawn into the US-Iran war when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader.
American officials are increasingly concerned that continued hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could jeopardize the broader US-backed peace agreement with Iran. The agreement reportedly includes commitments aimed at ending military confrontations on “all fronts,” including Lebanon.
US envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reported to be heading to Switzerland for initial talks with Iran to help cement the agreement. Diplomats hope the discussions will reinforce the ceasefire framework and prevent a wider regional conflict.
While the deal may have temporarily prevented a broader Middle East escalation, major issues remain unresolved. Among them are Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon and the future status of Hezbollah’s weapons and military operations.
Adding to the uncertainty, a Hezbollah official told the BBC that the group does not recognise the ceasefire that was announced by US officials on Friday afternoon and rejects Israel’s objective to operate freely inside Lebanese territory.
Senior Hezbollah official Hassan Fadlallah said his group had the right to respond to Israeli attacks.
“What concerns us is that the enemy fully and comprehensively respects the ceasefire, and doesn’t attempt to attack our country and villages or seek to occupy any new position,“ he said, as quoted in Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Earlier on Friday, Lebanon’s health ministry said 47 people were killed and 97 wounded in Israeli air strikes, while the Israeli military said four of its soldiers were also killed, highlighting the heavy toll being suffered on both sides.
For residents and emergency workers in southern Lebanon, the violence has brought scenes of devastation and despair.
Ali, a Red Cross first responder in Nabatieh, told the BBC that it was “the most intense night” he can remember.
Those strikes came a day after the US and Iranian presidents signed an initial peace deal aiming to end the war, including in Lebanon, with immediate effect. However, military operations continued despite the announcement, casting doubt on the durability of the agreement.
Across southern Lebanon, the human cost of the conflict is becoming increasingly visible.
Hospitals remain overwhelmed with casualties, while emergency responders are increasingly shifting from rescue missions to recovery operations. Medical personnel continue working under extreme pressure as fresh casualties arrive daily.
At Najdi Hospital in Nabatieh, ambulances bypass the emergency room and head straight to the morgue. Ali says there is no more room inside, and through the doorway, bodies in white bags can be seen laid out on the floor.
Many residents had returned to their villages after previous ceasefires and temporary truces, believing the worst phase of the conflict had passed. The latest attacks have shattered those hopes, forcing many to once again confront the realities of war.
“The problem is that we got used to it.
“I have been with the Red Cross for more than 30 years, and deaths now are only a number for us,“ Ali says.
The current round of hostilities follows a pattern of repeated ceasefire failures. The two sides first agreed to a ceasefire in April, but the arrangement failed to halt military confrontations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently ordered the Israeli military to intensify its strikes on Hezbollah and advance deeper into Lebanon after Hezbollah launched drone and rocket attacks against communities in northern Israel.
Although ceasefire commitments have been renewed several times since then, they have frequently been followed by renewed airstrikes and retaliatory attacks from both sides.
Netanyahu has also faced growing domestic pressure to maintain military operations against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia Muslim political and military group based in Lebanon.
For its part, Hezbollah has vowed to continue attacks while Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon remains in place, setting the stage for further confrontations despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Earlier this week, the White House criticised the Israeli government’s military operation in Lebanon, warning that it could undermine the broader peace agreement. However, speaking on Friday as he unveiled a new Air Force One jet, President Donald Trump praised Netanyahu, describing him as a “warrior”.
Lebanon was drawn into this conflict in march, when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel. In response, Israel launched a bombing campaign across Lebanon. It is occupying around 5% of the country’s territory in the south, with the aim of driving back Hezbollah fighters from its northern border.
The humanitarian impact has been severe. Around a million people remain displaced, while dozens of communities across southern Lebanon have been completely destroyed, leaving uncertainty over when lasting peace can finally return to the region.