Israel Attacks Lebanon Hours After Ceasefire Deal

Tensions flared anew in the Levant on Thursday morning as Israeli forces launched fresh drone strikes across southern Lebanon, just hours after Washington announced that Israel and Lebanon had reached a conditional ceasefire agreement.

According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Israeli drones targeted several locations along roads in the south, with at least one strike resulting in casualties. The attacks came less than 24 hours after a joint statement released following high-level talks in Washington declared that both sides had agreed to halt hostilities, contingent on a "complete cessation" of fire by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and the withdrawal of its operatives from south of the Litani River.

Military Stance Remains Hardline

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz maintained a firm stance on Thursday, stating that the military would continue its operations in southern Lebanon. Katz reiterated a stern warning that Israel retains the right to strike Beirut's southern suburbs if Hezbollah launches any attacks on northern Israeli communities, echoing the position held by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The discrepancy between the diplomatic announcement and the reality on the ground highlights the fragility of the agreement. The ceasefire, brokered with US guidance, requires Hezbollah to completely withdraw from the south and allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to take exclusive control of the territory—a condition that has yet to be verified on the ground as fighting continues.

Internal Israeli Criticism

The deal has also faced sharp criticism from within Israel's own government. Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-left National Security Minister, publicly denounced the agreement on Thursday, labeling it a "serious mistake."

"The ceasefire with Lebanon is a serious mistake and the pipe dreams of advisers are dragging the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) to wrong decisions," Ben Gvir wrote on social media platform X. His comments underscore the deep political divisions within Israel regarding the strategy for dealing with Hezbollah and the broader regional conflict involving Iran.

A Fragile Truce?

The immediate resumption of strikes raises questions about the enforceability of the Washington-brokered deal. While US officials expressed optimism that the agreement would lead to a swift de-escalation, the continued violence suggests that the "complete cessation" of fire required by the terms has not yet been achieved.

As the international community watches closely, the coming hours will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can take hold or if the cycle of retaliation between Israel and Hezbollah will continue to escalate, potentially drawing in wider regional actors.