Israeli strikes kill 16 in southern Lebanon despite recent ceasefire claim
Israeli air and drone attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 16 people, including two children, despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire announced the day before.
Israeli forces carried out a series of air and drone strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday morning, killing at least 16 people, including two children, according to Lebanese civil defense and media reports. The attacks hit towns such as Arabsalim, where three people were killed, and Deir al-Zahrani, where one person died, with several others reported trapped under rubble. The Lebanese army said a soldier was also killed between Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh.
The Israel Defense Forces said Hezbollah violated a newly announced ceasefire by firing more than 50 projectiles toward Israeli soldiers overnight, prompting the strikes on what it described as Hezbollah targets. The IDF statement added that it remained committed to the ceasefire agreement. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, denied the allegation, claiming it had adhered to the ceasefire since Friday evening and accused Israel of making false claims to justify its actions.
The violence follows a U.S. announcement that Israel and Hezbollah had implemented a fresh ceasefire at the request of President Donald Trump. U.S. officials had also urged Israel to halt strikes on Lebanon, and Israel’s ambassador to the United States said offensive operations would cease. However, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest Israel may continue attacks against Hezbollah, potentially jeopardizing the broader diplomatic effort.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran, scheduled to begin in Switzerland, were postponed. The talks aim to address remaining issues of a memorandum of understanding that calls for an immediate end to all fighting in the region, including Lebanon. Iranian officials warned that Israeli strikes could be viewed as a breach of the agreement.
Analysts noted that internal political pressures on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an upcoming election, may influence the continuation of military actions. "Netanyahu is in a challenging political spot," said Jonathan Panikoff, a former intelligence officer at the Atlantic Council.
An IDF spokesperson said Israeli forces will continue operations in southern Lebanon and will act as necessary to protect Israeli civilians.