Efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have stalled despite a new agreement announced by the United States. Fighting between the two sides has intensified even after President Trump announced on Monday that both Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to stop all military operations.
The situation deteriorated quickly. Within hours of Trump's announcement, Israeli warplanes launched dozens of strikes across southern Lebanon. Lebanon's National News Agency reported 30 Israeli strikes on Tuesday alone. Near the city of Sidon, rescue workers recovered the bodies of six family members, including two children and a woman, following one strike. The Israeli military also issued new evacuation warnings for the southern city of Nabatiyeh.
Israel accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, citing what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called "repeated and ongoing violations." Netanyahu had ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a densely populated Hezbollah stronghold, claiming the group had broken the terms of an earlier ceasefire officially in place since April 17.
Trump reportedly intervened during this escalation. According to news reports, Trump called Netanyahu over the strikes on the Beirut suburbs, and the two reached an agreement that Netanyahu would refrain from attacking that area if Hezbollah ceased its attacks on Israel. However, the situation remained volatile as both sides continued military operations.
Hezbollah has rejected the ceasefire framework. The group maintains it will not accept what it views as a one-sided arrangement requiring it to stop fighting first while Israel continues operations. Mahmoud Qmati, a senior Hezbollah official, told news agencies that the group "will not accept a partial ceasefire" and warned that any aggression against Beirut's southern suburbs "could lead to a deeper and stronger response."
Adding to the complexity, Hezbollah has not been a direct party to the negotiations, complicating Washington's mediation efforts. The group is not formally represented at the talks, leaving unclear who can commit the organization to any agreement.
The latest round of violence represents a significant escalation in the conflict, which began in March following Hezbollah's retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader. Israeli troops have pushed deep into southern Lebanon, raising their flag over Beaufort Castle in what marks their deepest incursion since their occupation ended in 2000.
The breakdown in negotiations has raised concerns about regional stability. Iran's political leadership suspended further negotiations with the United States, declaring that a ceasefire in Lebanon was a precondition for broader talks. Israeli and Lebanese delegations have begun a fourth round of talks in Washington, but without agreement on fundamental terms, prospects for lasting peace remain uncertain.