At least 20 people have reportedly been killed by Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon, less than 24 hours after a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced, according to local officials. The dead included a family of four – a father, a mother and their two children – killed in the town of Barich, as Israeli warplanes, drones and artillery hit several areas, state media reported. Lebanon’s civil defence agency said it transported “16 dead and 12 wounded” to hospital, with rescue operations ongoing in the Nabatieh district since early morning.
The violence came after the Israeli military said Hezbollah launched over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight. The IDF responded by striking “dozens” of Hezbollah targets, including rocket-launching positions and command centres. “These attacks constitute repeated and ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement,” the IDF said in a statement. Hezbollah official Hassan Fadlallah told the BBC his group does not recognise the ceasefire announced by US officials on Friday afternoon, and said Hezbollah had the right to respond to Israeli attacks.
“At least 20 killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon hours after ceasefire with Hezbollah announced”
The renewed fighting threatened to derail the interim agreement signed this week between the US and Iran, which calls for a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. US envoy Steve Witkoff was reported to be heading to Switzerland for initial talks with Iran, after planned negotiations were cancelled. In a further escalation, Iran announced it is closing the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire. Iran’s top joint military command called the closure the “first step” in response to what it described as breaches of commitments, warning further measures would follow. Vice President JD Vance said there was no evidence yet that Iran was closing the waterway, through which about one fifth of the world’s oil typically flows.
Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,900 people in Lebanon since the conflict began on March 2, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, and more than one million people have been displaced. Friday alone saw 47 people killed in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers killed when a Hezbollah drone hit their tank. The US government criticised Israel’s operations, and President Trump reportedly told Israel to accept the ceasefire, telling NBC News: “You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head.” Washington fears the continuing tensions could undermine the US peace deal with Iran. The deal leaves unresolved the central disputes, including Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon and the future of Hezbollah’s weapons.