A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah agreed on Friday has been undermined by overnight strikes that killed 16 people in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense. The deal, brokered under pressure from Donald Trump, was intended to deescalate a conflict that on the same day killed at least 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers.
The White House said the ceasefire was needed to protect Trump's agreement with Iran — the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed at Versailles on 17 June. Negotiations on the next phase of that deal had been due to start in Switzerland on Friday but were postponed after Iran complained that Israel's offensive breached the memorandum. The terms of the ceasefire, perceived as favourable to Iran, have come under fire in the US and Israel.
“Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire unravels as 16 killed in southern Lebanon despite Trump-brokered deal.”
Despite the truce, Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces, the IDF said, prompting Israeli strikes on what it described as “Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon”. The Israeli military said in a post on X: “The IDF struck dozens of Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites & terrorists in southern Lebanon throughout the night.”
According to the New York Times, a recent US intelligence assessment concluded that Israel is likely to continue operations against Hezbollah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure after attacks by the group in northern Israel. US envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly traveled to Switzerland on Friday for planned talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Vice President JD Vance said on Fox News that he may join the talks “as soon as tomorrow.”
Trump signed the agreement with Iran at a candlelit dinner with Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, the White House releasing footage with the caption “Peace through Strength.” But the New Statesman called it a “humiliating climbdown” from his earlier demand for “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”. Trump insisted he had “never cared about regime change,” saying Tehran were “very rational” and “smart people” who were “nice to deal with.”
The ceasefire deal faces further strain as the US and Iran are set to resume talks. Vance said he may join negotiations in Switzerland, which could determine whether the broader Iran agreement survives.