Israeli airstrikes killed at least 16 people in southern Lebanon on Saturday, hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect. The strikes targeted residential areas, including a three-storey building in Barish, killing a family of four. Hezbollah and Israel traded accusations of ceasefire violations, with Israel claiming Hezbollah fired over 50 projectiles, while Hezbollah accused Israel of breaching the agreement.
The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S. and Qatar, was intended to halt months of escalating violence. However, Israeli officials stated they would maintain a security presence in southern Lebanon, citing ongoing threats from Hezbollah. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, vowed to resist any Israeli territorial expansion. The violence has raised concerns about the stability of a U.S.-Iran interim peace deal, which hinges on an end to the conflict in Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed credit for the ceasefire, urging Israel to 'calm down' and use restraint. However, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have indicated they will not withdraw troops from Lebanon, framing the presence as necessary to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure. The U.S. has warned that continued Israeli operations could undermine the fragile U.S.-Iran agreement.