Israel launches airstrikes on southern Lebanon amid ceasefire, 11 lethal incidents reported
In a developing crisis, Israeli warplanes, drones and artillery struck more than a dozen areas around the city of Nabatieh, killing at least 11 people in southern Lebanon less than 24 hours after a ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Lebanese state news agency spaced the casualties across multiple towns, with the most severe damage reported in the vicinity of Nabatieh. While the Lebanese authorities confirmed the deaths, they did not detail the age or occupation of the victims.
Israel stated that the strikes were directed at “Hezbollah terrorist targets” and were in retaliation for a barrage of more than 50 rockets and drones fired by the group at Israeli forces in the south. The Israeli military highlighted that the operation was aimed at neutralising threats posed by Hezbollah fighters.
Hassan Fadlallah, a senior Hezbollah spokesperson, reiterated that his organization has “the right to respond to Israeli attacks.” He added that “any attempt to occupy new villages or positions in Lebanon would be unacceptable.”
The United States has voiced concerns that continued fighting between Israel and Lebanon could undermine the broader US‑Iran peace deal, which calls for an end to hostilities on “all fronts,” including Lebanon. Washington’s officials fear that escalation might stall the agreement that was recently christened by a new deal at the White House.
In parallel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under domestic pressure to sustain the military campaign against Hezbollah. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is travelling to Switzerland for initial talks with Iran to try to cement the peace agreement, while the region continues to experience widespread displacement and destruction.
The latest strikes further complicate the fragile ceasefire and raise questions about the long‑term stability of the area, as an estimated one million people remain displaced and many southern communities have suffered extensive damage.
