Ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon prompt forced displacement warnings and renewed hostilities
The United States prepares to host peace talks in Washington despite the escalation and criticism from Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have breached the official ceasefire, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and injuries to eight others, including two medics. The attacks targeted the towns of Toul, Ebba, and Haris, marking a significant deterioration in the security situation along the border.
According to the Lebanese state National News Agency (NNA), the casualties included two medical workers who were wounded when an air strike hit a civil defence team affiliated with the Islamic Health Society in Toul. In Ebba, an air raid killed two men and injured five others, while a drone strike on a vehicle in Haris killed one man and injured his brother.
Concurrent with these strikes, the Israeli army issued forced displacement warnings for nine towns in southern and eastern Lebanon, specifically citing the presence of Hezbollah infrastructure as the justification. Army spokesman Avichay Adraee explicitly urged residents of these locations to evacuate, listing towns including Rihan, Jarjou, Kfar Rumman, and others in Nabatieh and eastern Lebanon.
Additional military activity was reported in Sajd, Kfar Rumman, and Safad al-Battikh, where warplanes targeted the home of a former municipal chief and other sites. While no immediate casualty figures were available for these specific locations, the scope of the offensive suggests a broadening of the conflict zone.
The violence has come against a backdrop of a ceasefire that began on 17 April and was extended to mid-May. Since 2 March, Lebanese figures report that Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,840 people, injured almost 8,700, and displaced more than a million individuals. Recent reports indicate that Israeli warplanes have also targeted Beirut's southern suburbs for the first time since the truce commenced.
In response to the escalation, Hezbollah claims to have launched numerous attacks on Israeli positions using drones, rockets, and artillery in the last 24 hours. The Israeli military confirmed that one soldier was killed and three others injured by a Hezbollah drone near the border.
Despite the intensifying hostilities, the United States is preparing to host peace talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Thursday and Friday. This diplomatic initiative has been criticised by Hezbollah, which has also expressed disapproval of the Lebanese government's participation in the proposed negotiations.
