Fighting persists in Lebanon despite a ceasefire as U.S.-Iran deal is under threat
"Fighting persists despite ceasefire reports, threatening US-Iran deal. Hezbollah and Israel exchange blows."
Israel launched strikes on southern Lebanon Saturday, killing at least seven people. The attacks occurred hours after reports of a ceasefire agreement, threatening an interim US-Iran deal to end the war in the Middle East.
The strikes hit the southern town of Nabatiyeh and nearby villages, with at least seven people remaining trapped under the rubble, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. Mediators scrambled to halt the fighting between Israel and the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group, after a heavy exchange on Friday killed at least 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers.
An Israeli military official said Hezbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting the military to target the militant group. The official spoke anonymously in line with regulations. On Friday, Israeli ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, said on X that Israel "remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire" if Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases hostilities.
Hezbollah has said it will abide by a ceasefire if Israel does, but has not confirmed a ceasefire is in place. A Hezbollah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said efforts were underway by Qatar, the US, and Iran to broker an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, but stopped short of confirming a deal had been reached.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began just days after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Hezbollah has fired rockets and drones at civilian communities in northern Israel, while Israel has seized large swaths of southern Lebanon. The interim US-Iran agreement signed this week has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed as the war unfolded, cutting off the global economy from significant supplies of oil and natural gas.
The deal also envisages the relaunch of talks on Iran's nuclear program, a core issue in the war. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah are signatories to the deal, which calls for a halt to military operations in Lebanon and for the country's sovereignty to be respected. With the fighting continuing, the accord is under threat, and US-Iran talks in Switzerland, planned to start Friday, have been delayed, with no new date announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep Israeli forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel is eliminated. Hezbollah has refused to halt its attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon, which Iran says is also a condition of the deal. Plumes of smoke rose into the sky over southern Lebanon Saturday, and Israeli jets flew low over the coastal city of Tyre.
A strike on the village of Barish killed four members of a family, including two children. In Arab Salim village, a body was pulled from a destroyed house, and in the villages of Doueir and Kfar Rumman, drone strikes killed a person on a motorcycle and a Lebanese soldier. Netanyahu's office did not immediately comment on the ceasefire efforts.
On Friday, Netanyahu posted on X that, on his orders, the Israeli army had "struck powerfully" 150 Hezbollah targets, killing dozens of militants. Military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the Israeli forces were operating in a "forward defense zone" and would continue doing so. Iranian officials did not travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that the fighting in Lebanon must stop before the talks can take place. US Vice President JD Vance also postponed his trip.
The ongoing conflict has significant implications for the region and the global economy. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz had a major impact on oil and gas supplies, and the reopening of the strait is a crucial step towards stabilizing the global economy. However, the continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to derail the US-Iran deal and plunge the region into further chaos.
The international community is watching the situation closely, with many calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomatic talks. The US, in particular, has a significant role to play in brokering a peace agreement, given its involvement in the conflict and its relationship with both Israel and Iran. The delay in US-Iran talks is a significant setback, and it remains to be seen whether the two sides can reach a agreement that addresses the core issues of the conflict.
In the meantime, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate, with many civilians caught in the crossfire. The international community must take immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis and work towards a lasting peace agreement that addresses the underlying issues of the conflict. The fate of the US-Iran deal and the future of the region hang in the balance, and it is imperative that all parties involved work towards a peaceful resolution.
