Israel Airstrike in Southern Lebanon Kills Four, Putting Ceasefire with Hezbollah Under Strain
Beirut, Lebanon — Tensions are once again flaring along the Israel-Lebanon border as an Israeli airstrike killed at least four people in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Health. The strike — which also wounded three others — has placed growing pressure on the fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah that was agreed upon nearly a year ago.
The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed on Saturday that the attack targeted the town of Kfarsir, located in the Nabatieh district. The strike, carried out around 2:15 pm local time (16:15 GMT), reportedly involved a precision-guided missile, the state-run Lebanon News Agency (LNA) said.
This latest attack comes amid rising accusations from Lebanese leaders that Israel has intensified its military operations in the south despite the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said earlier this week that Israel was escalating hostilities following his public offer to open negotiations toward a more lasting peace.
Renewed Tensions Despite Yearlong Truce
The current wave of violence traces its roots back to October 2023, when Hezbollah began launching cross-border attacks in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on southern Israel.
After months of deadly exchanges between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was finally announced in November 2024. However, nearly a year later, the truce remains deeply fragile.
Despite the agreement, Israel has maintained a military presence in five areas of southern Lebanon and continues to carry out near-daily air raids, which Lebanese officials and the United Nations (UN) say are clear violations of the ceasefire terms.
According to UN reports, Israeli operations have killed at least 111 civilians in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect. Victims include first responders, journalists, and children, underscoring the devastating human toll of the ongoing strikes.
Israel, for its part, has repeatedly defended its actions, insisting that its air raids are “defensive measures” aimed at eliminating Hezbollah targets and preventing the group from rebuilding military infrastructure near the border.
Lebanon Accuses Israel of Escalation
In his latest address, President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel’s “continuous violations” of Lebanese sovereignty and called for direct negotiations aimed at ending what he described as “the ongoing Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon.”
“The Lebanese government is committed to peace,” Aoun said. “But Israel must respect international law and cease its repeated aggressions on our territory.”
Aoun’s comments came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the original ceasefire deal, urged both sides to maintain restraint and resume dialogue to avoid “another catastrophic regional conflict.”
However, Israeli officials argue that Lebanon has failed to uphold its part of the ceasefire, accusing Beirut of turning a blind eye to Hezbollah’s continued activities in the south. Israel insists that Hezbollah — which it considers a terrorist organization — must disarm and withdraw from border areas, a demand the group has categorically rejected.
Hezbollah officials responded defiantly, saying that the movement would not disarm “as long as Israeli occupation and aggression continue.”
A New Escalation: Israeli Troops Cross Border
Tensions soared further this week after Israeli soldiers entered the Lebanese border town of Blida, in what Israel described as a “counterterrorism operation” targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
According to the National News Agency (NNA), Israeli forces stormed the town hall, where municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh, who had been sleeping inside, was killed. The operation drew immediate condemnation from Lebanese authorities, who said it was a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty.”
In response, President Aoun ordered Lebanon’s Armed Forces to confront any new Israeli incursions. The move, seen as a significant escalation, has raised fears of a wider conflict erupting along the border.
The Israeli military defended its actions, claiming that soldiers opened fire in response to an “immediate threat” posed by Hezbollah fighters operating in the area.
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue to act decisively against terrorist infrastructure,” an Israeli military spokesperson said. “We are responding to direct threats to Israeli security.”
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
Residents in southern Lebanon say they are living in constant fear as airstrikes and artillery exchanges have become part of daily life once again.
“It feels like we’re back in wartime,” said Rami Haddad, a teacher from Nabatieh. “Every night we hear drones overhead. People are scared to leave their homes after dark.”
Aid agencies have reported a sharp rise in displacement, with hundreds of families fleeing frontline villages near the border. Many are seeking shelter in schools and public buildings in safer areas of Lebanon’s interior.
The Lebanese Red Cross said its teams have been working around the clock to assist those affected by the bombings. “Our ambulances and volunteers have responded to multiple strikes this week alone,” said spokesperson Maya Khalil. “The situation is deteriorating rapidly.”
International Reactions and Calls for Restraint
The renewed violence has drawn international concern, with the United Nations and European Union urging both sides to de-escalate.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply troubled by the repeated violations of the ceasefire” and called for “immediate restraint to prevent a full-scale regional crisis.”
The U.S. State Department also expressed concern, warning that continued clashes could “jeopardize broader regional stability.”
“Both Israel and Hezbollah must adhere to the terms of the ceasefire agreement,” said a U.S. spokesperson. “The humanitarian consequences of renewed fighting would be catastrophic.”
Analysts say the fragile truce is now hanging by a thread, with both sides testing limits amid deep mutual distrust.
The Road Ahead: Peace or More Conflict?
Political analysts believe the recent escalation could either push the two sides closer to renewed peace talks or lead to another devastating conflict.
“Israel’s continued airstrikes undermine confidence in the ceasefire, while Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm ensures that tensions remain high,” said Dr. Karim Bitar, a political scientist at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. “Unless both sides show restraint and commit to dialogue, the situation could spiral out of control.”
For now, civilians remain the most vulnerable. Many in southern Lebanon say they have lost faith in international mediation.
“We’ve seen ceasefires come and go,” said Layla Choueiri, a resident of Tyre. “Each time, it’s the same story — more promises, more violence, and more lives lost.”
As Israel and Lebanon edge closer to confrontation once again, the international community is watching closely. Whether diplomacy can prevail this time remains uncertain — but for families in Kfarsir, Blida, and across southern Lebanon, peace cannot come soon enough.