Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed at least 16 people, local officials said on Saturday, even as reports emerged of a renewed ceasefire aimed at ending ongoing violence that threatens the new agreement between the US and Iran.
Lebanon’s civil defense agency said its teams had transported “16 dead and 12 wounded” to hospitals, adding that they had been working “since the early morning hours” in the Nabatieh district in response to “ongoing attacks targeting the area.”
A fresh outbreak of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel on Friday forced mediators to cancel talks in Switzerland. Those talks were meant to begin turning the current interim US-Iran agreement, signed this week, into a more detailed deal covering Iran’s nuclear program.
The interim agreement calls for a halt to hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. It has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli ministers, officials, and commentators, who argue it prevents Israel from countering threats posed by Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in response to overnight projectile launches from the Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group.
One of the deadliest Israeli strikes on Saturday hit a three-story residential building in the southern town of Barish in the Tyre district, killing a father, mother, and their two children, a local village official told Reuters.
Violence flared on Friday after four Israeli soldiers, including a senior officer, were killed when a tank was hit by Hezbollah. The group said the strike came after Israel broke a previous ceasefire agreement by advancing. The Israeli attacks that followed killed 47 people, local authorities said, across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley.
The exact status of the new ceasefire, reported to have taken effect locally on Friday evening, is unclear. In public statements, Hezbollah has said it will abide by a ceasefire if Israel does, but has not confirmed that a ceasefire is actually in place.
Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah parliamentarian in Lebanon, said his group had the right to respond to Israeli attacks. “There is talk of a ceasefire. For us, what matters is that the enemy fully refrains from attacking our country and villages or trying to occupy any new position,” he said in a statement.
The most recent round of war between Hezbollah and Israel began days after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February. Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at civilian communities in northern Israel, while Israel seized and occupied large parts of southern Lebanon to create a “buffer zone.”
The ongoing violence and diplomatic back-and-forth over the planned talks between Iran and the US have fueled doubts that a definitive end can be found to a regional war that has killed at least 7,000 people, driven up energy prices, and threatened global economic chaos.
The interim US-Iran agreement signed this week has already reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the strait carried about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquid gas supplies, but Tehran closed it to most shipping shortly after the conflict began.
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.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, 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.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said on Saturday that consultations through mediators are ongoing.Regarding the next phase of negotiations to draft a final US-Iran agreement, talks are still ongoing. Baghaei noted that since the initial deal was signed digitally earlier this week, the discussions in Switzerland were not urgent. Plans are in place to hold a meeting in the coming days.
The interim deal gives negotiators 60 days to reach a nuclear agreement, though this timeline can be extended. Many observers warn that reaching an agreement on such a complex issue within two months will be very difficult. The 2015 nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump scrapped during his first term, took more than 18 months to negotiate.
The deal offers significant incentives for Iran, including the eventual lifting of all international sanctions and a $300 billion (£225 billion) fund for postwar reconstruction.
Tehran has already secured some economic concessions, which may provide some relief for Iran’s severe economic crisis. After the interim deal was signed, the US lifted its blockade of Iran’s ports and is now allowing it to sell its oil freely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the situation you described covering different levels of understanding
Basic Questions
Q I heard there was a ceasefire Why are Israeli strikes still happening in Lebanon
A The reports of a renewed ceasefire were likely referring to a temporary humanitarian pause or a specific local agreement not a full permanent end to the conflict The strikes you are seeing suggest that either the pause has collapsed or it was violated leading to a resumption of military action
Q How many people have been killed in these latest strikes
A Reports indicate that at least 16 people have been killed in Lebanon as a result of the recent Israeli strikes
Q Who is being targeted in these strikes
A Israels stated targets are usually Hezbollah military infrastructure weapons caches or fighters However strikes in populated areas often result in civilian casualties including the 16 people reported killed
Q Is this a new war between Israel and Lebanon
A Not necessarily a new fullscale war It is an escalation of an ongoing lowlevel conflict The situation is very volatile and a wider war is a serious risk but these specific strikes are part of a pattern of crossborder fire that has been happening for months
Intermediate Questions
Q What does a renewed ceasefire mean if people are still being killed
A The term is often misleading It usually refers to a diplomatic effort to restart a previous ceasefire agreement that had broken down In practice a renewed ceasefire is fragile and often fails It does not mean all violence has stopped it means both sides agreed to stop but the agreement is not being honored
Q How can a ceasefire be violated so quickly
A Ceasefires are often violated for a few reasons 1 One side accuses the other of a breach and retaliates 2 Rogue factions or splinter groups not part of the agreement launch attacks 3 The ceasefire terms are vague leading to different interpretations of what is allowed
Q Are the 16 deaths all civilians or were some fighters
