Jerusalem : At least five people were killed after Israel carried out air strikes and drone attacks across southern Lebanon on Saturday, just hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes and drones launched overnight attacks across the Nabatieh region, damaging homes and residential buildings. Artillery shelling also struck Nabatieh and nearby areas before dawn.
The attacks came despite a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group following a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities that had fuelled fears of a wider regional conflict. A senior US official said the truce took effect shortly before 4 pm local time on Friday (1300 GMT), while a senior Israeli official and two Hezbollah sources separately confirmed the agreement to Reuters.
The ceasefire was brokered through mediation efforts led by the United States and Qatar, with support from Iran. Officials involved in the negotiations said the deal was aimed at calming tensions along Lebanon’s southern border and safeguarding broader diplomatic initiatives in the region. The agreement followed one of the deadliest rounds of fighting in recent months. Israeli strikes in Lebanon reportedly killed around 40 people, while Hezbollah attacks left four Israeli soldiers dead.
However, the truce appeared shaky from the outset. Lebanese security sources said Israeli military operations continued in the hours immediately after the ceasefire took effect. Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the army retained full freedom to act against threats and was continuing operations in areas including Beaufort Castle and the Ali Taher ridge.
Defrin accused Hezbollah of attempting to maintain military infrastructure and violating the terms of the ceasefire. The renewed violence has also cast a shadow over wider regional diplomacy. Planned talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland are expected to resume after being delayed amid concerns that renewed fighting in Lebanon could undermine negotiations related to regional security and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
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