Israeli air defences intercept projectiles from Lebanon hours after Trump claims ceasefire

Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border persisted into the early hours of Tuesday as Israeli air defences intercepted incoming projectiles, contradicting recent diplomatic assertions that fighting had ceased. The intercept occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump announced he had brokered an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting a stark discrepancy between high-level diplomatic claims and immediate military activity on the ground.

The Israeli military confirmed via its Telegram channel that air defences intercepted two projectiles launched from Lebanon into northern Israel. The interception followed air raid sirens sounding at 01:35 local time (2235 GMT) in several areas. The military also reported that a "suspicious aerial target" fell in Israeli territory near the border, though it stated that no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

The military operation came just hours after President Trump claimed on Monday that he had persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to send troops into southern Beirut. Trump had stated that "all shooting will stop," asserting that a cessation of hostilities had been achieved through direct discussions with both the Israeli leadership and Hezbollah.

However, the timeline of events suggests a more volatile situation. Hezbollah claimed to have carried out several attacks on Israeli targets in south Lebanon late on Monday, hours after Trump’s announcement that the Iran-backed group had agreed to stop firing. This activity preceded the early Tuesday intercepts, indicating that the cessation of attacks was not immediately effective across the border.

In a statement posted by the Lebanese presidential office, Lebanon’s embassy in Washington indicated that Hezbollah had accepted a US proposal for a "reciprocal cessation of attacks." While this diplomatic development was presented as a breakthrough, the immediate resumption of fire and subsequent intercepts underscore the fragility of the agreement and the continued volatility of the region.

The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting that the death toll from Israeli attacks since March has reached 3,433, leaving 10,395 people injured. As diplomatic efforts continue, the incident on Tuesday serves as a reminder of the ongoing risks and the complex reality of ceasefire negotiations in the region.