At least 20 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Saturday, only hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect. The attacks raised fresh concerns about the durability of the truce, which was intended to halt months of escalating violence and create conditions for broader regional stability.
Israeli officials said the strikes were carried out in response to overnight attacks by Hezbollah. According to military sources, more than 50 projectiles were fired toward Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, prompting retaliatory action against what Israel described as Hezbollah-linked positions. The Israeli military maintained that its operations were defensive and conducted in line with updated political directives.
Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli warplanes and drones targeted several areas in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah accused Israel of committing repeated ceasefire violations and warned that continued attacks would not go unanswered. The group also called on international actors to intervene and help preserve the ceasefire agreement.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in the southern town of Barish, where an airstrike hit a residential building and killed four members of the same family, including two children. In a separate attack, the Lebanese army reported the death of one of its soldiers. Another strike damaged a branch of Lebanon’s central bank in Nabatieh, causing significant material losses but no reported casualties.
Tensions remained high as both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Hezbollah stated that its fighters confronted Israeli troops near the Ali al-Taher hill area after what it described as an attempted incursion. Israel, however, insisted that its forces would continue responding to any threats against its soldiers or civilians while remaining committed to the truce.
The renewed violence has cast doubt on efforts to secure a lasting peace in the region. Lebanon’s health ministry says more than 4,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since early March, while Israeli authorities report the deaths of 32 soldiers and four civilians during the conflict. With both sides maintaining military readiness, concerns are growing that the fragile ceasefire could unravel unless diplomatic efforts produce tangible results.