Israel launches fresh strikes on southern Lebanon despite US-brokered truce framework

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2 months · 3 summary articles
Israel resumes strikes in Lebanon after trilateral accord as Gaza violence persists
Follow-upIsrael launches fresh strikes on southern Lebanon despite US-brokered truce framework
Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon as US-mediated talks in Washington collapse over withdrawal dispute
Follow-up
Israel launched fresh airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Sunday, 28 June 2026, killing Hezbollah militants and striking a rocket launcher near Nabatieh, despite a US-brokered framework agreement signed just two days earlier aimed at ending weeks of cross-border violence. The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating its forces had targeted “militants posing an immediate threat to Israeli troops,” while Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem dismissed the agreement as “null and void” and reiterated demands for Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory in line with an Iranian-American memorandum .
The renewed fighting comes as Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun hailed the framework deal as the “first step toward complete sovereignty,” asserting it would enable displaced residents to return to liberated towns under exclusive state authority . Yet Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the army would maintain an “extended stay” in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed nationwide, contradicting the spirit of the truce . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added that Israeli troops would begin withdrawing from two pilot areas while retaining positions in the strategic Shqif region, claiming Washington and Beirut had accepted continued Israeli military presence in a security zone .
Hezbollah’s rejection of the deal has triggered protests across Lebanon, prompting the Lebanese army to deploy against roadblocks and unrest in a bid to restore order . Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged an end to the ceasefire after four Israeli soldiers were wounded in a grenade attack, while other cabinet members criticised operational constraints .
The violence has also spilled into Syria, where Israeli strikes killed multiple people over the weekend . In Gaza, children continue to bear the brunt of ongoing Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire agreed in October 2025, with reports of fresh casualties in tent camps .
As diplomatic efforts falter and military posturing intensifies, the risk of escalation remains high, with both sides hardening their positions and civilians caught in the crossfire.
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