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Tag: Hezbollah attacks

  • Hezbollah Agrees to Halt Attacks on Israel as US Brokers Reciprocal De-Escalation Deal

    Hezbollah Agrees to Halt Attacks on Israel as US Brokers Reciprocal De-Escalation Deal

    A new diplomatic breakthrough may ease tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border after Lebanon announced that Hezbollah has agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal for a mutual halt to attacks with Israel.

    According to the Lebanese embassy in Washington, Hezbollah has accepted an arrangement under which Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs would cease in exchange for the Iran-backed group stopping rocket and drone attacks against Israel. Lebanese officials said the framework is expected to expand beyond Beirut and eventually cover all Lebanese territory.

    The development follows intensive diplomatic efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated that he had spoken with both Israeli and Hezbollah representatives and secured commitments from both sides to stop hostilities.

    “I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump wrote, adding that Israeli forces would not move into Beirut and that troops already en route had been turned back. He also claimed that Hezbollah representatives had agreed to end attacks, while Israel would refrain from striking the group.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the understanding but stressed that Israel reserves the right to respond if attacks continue.

    Netanyahu warned that military action against Beirut could resume if Hezbollah does not stop targeting Israeli cities and civilians. He also emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue planned operations in southern Lebanon despite the agreement.

    The announcement comes after Israel ordered strikes on what it described as terrorist targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs following a series of rocket and drone attacks attributed to Hezbollah. The strikes prompted widespread concern in Lebanon, with many residents reportedly fleeing affected neighborhoods after evacuation warnings were issued.

    The situation also drew a strong reaction from Iran, Hezbollah’s principal ally. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi argued that the existing U.S.-Iran ceasefire should apply across all regional fronts, including Lebanon, warning that any military escalation could undermine broader diplomatic efforts.

    Iranian media reports suggested Tehran was considering suspending indirect negotiations with the United States over continued Israeli military actions in Lebanon. The reports also raised concerns about potential regional escalation involving strategic waterways such as the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping route connecting the Red Sea to international trade corridors.

    Despite those warnings, Trump maintained that diplomatic discussions with Iran remain active and are progressing rapidly. The U.S. administration has been seeking to preserve regional stability following recent efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.

    The latest agreement represents a potentially significant step toward preventing a broader regional conflict involving Israel, Lebanon, Iran, and other actors across the Middle East. However, the durability of the arrangement will likely depend on whether both Israel and Hezbollah fully adhere to the terms of the proposed cessation of attacks.

    With military operations continuing in parts of southern Lebanon and lingering distrust between the parties, regional observers remain cautious about whether the agreement can evolve into a lasting ceasefire.

  • Israel Captures Beaufort Castle as Military Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon

    Israel Captures Beaufort Castle as Military Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon

    Israel has intensified its military campaign in southern Lebanon, announcing the capture of the historic Beaufort Castle while expanding evacuation orders and ground operations against Hezbollah.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a renewed warning for residents south of the Zahrani River to evacuate immediately, stating that anyone near Hezbollah personnel, facilities, or military assets could be at risk.

    According to Israeli military officials, a significant number of ground troops are participating in the operation, which is now expanding beyond previously established operational zones. The move signals a deeper Israeli advance into Lebanese territory, extending beyond the Litani River, a longstanding reference point in conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah.

    A major development in the campaign came with the capture of Beaufort Castle, a centuries-old fortress perched on a strategic ridge overlooking the Litani River. Originally constructed by Crusaders nearly 900 years ago, the castle has played a key role in multiple regional conflicts due to its commanding position and extensive views across southern Lebanon.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the seizure of the fortress as a significant turning point in Israel’s military strategy.

    Speaking after the operation, Netanyahu said the capture represented a dramatic change in policy and demonstrated Israel’s willingness to take the initiative across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria.

    Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz highlighted the symbolic importance of the site, noting that Israeli forces had previously fought for control of Beaufort Castle more than four decades ago. He said members of the Golani Brigade had once again raised the Israeli flag over the fortress.

    Israeli officials argue that securing the castle and surrounding high ground strengthens protection for communities in northern Israel that have faced increasing missile and drone attacks launched by Hezbollah.

    Israel says its expanded military operations are a response to intensified attacks by the Iranian-backed group, including missile and explosive drone strikes targeting both Israeli military positions and civilian communities near the border.

    Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike near Hiram Hospital in the city of Tyre injured 13 hospital staff members and caused significant damage to the surrounding area.

    The escalation has drawn international concern. France has requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation in Lebanon.

    French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized Israel’s actions, calling the continued military expansion a major mistake and arguing that there is no justification for prolonging operations or deepening Israel’s presence inside Lebanese territory.

    The fighting continues amid growing regional tensions. Israeli authorities confirmed the death of another soldier, while schools in several northern Israeli communities remained closed as a precaution against further attacks.

    Hezbollah reportedly launched approximately 25 projectiles toward northern Israel on Saturday, adding to pressure on the Israeli government to improve security measures for border residents.

    The capture of Beaufort Castle marks one of the most symbolically significant gains for Israel since the latest escalation began, while also underscoring the growing risk of a broader and more prolonged conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border.

  • Israeli Airstrikes Kill At Least 14 in Southern Lebanon Ahead of Washington Security Talks

    Israeli Airstrikes Kill At Least 14 in Southern Lebanon Ahead of Washington Security Talks

    Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon killed at least 14 people Thursday, including women, children, and a Lebanese soldier, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated ahead of planned security talks in Washington.

    The strikes targeted multiple locations across Lebanon’s south, including the major coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state media. Dozens of people were also reported wounded amid the intensified bombardment.

    The latest escalation follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel would expand military operations against Hezbollah. The move reportedly came in response to Hezbollah’s growing use of fiber-optic explosive drones that have targeted Israeli troops and communities near Israel’s northern border.

    In Tyre, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for several buildings and nearby neighborhoods before the attacks began, prompting many residents to flee the area.

    Further north in Sidon, an Israeli drone strike hit an apartment building housing displaced families, killing five people and injuring at least 21 others, including children. Among those killed was Hossan Zeidan, a former correspondent for Iran’s Arabic-language al-Aalam television network.

    Residents described scenes of chaos following the explosion.

    Mohammad Al-Gharbi, who lived nearby, said debris and shattered glass crashed into his home when the strike hit.

    “This building that was hit had six apartments occupied by poor families who had fled from the south to escape the attacks there, only to be hit here,” he said.

    In the coastal town of Adloun, another Israeli drone strike targeted a fleeing family vehicle, killing six people, including two parents and their children, according to Lebanese officials.

    Additional strikes near Tyre and Nabatiyeh also killed two civilians on a motorcycle and a Lebanese soldier traveling separately on his motorcycle.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli military said one Israeli soldier was killed and two reservists wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack in northern Israel.

    Lebanese and Israeli military officials are expected to meet Friday in Washington for rare security talks aimed at maintaining a fragile ceasefire that officially took effect on April 17. Despite the truce, violence has continued to intensify across southern Lebanon, although Beirut has largely been spared.

    Hezbollah has rejected the negotiations and instead aligned itself with Iran, which reportedly insists that any broader diplomatic progress with Washington depends on ending the conflict in Lebanon.

    The ongoing conflict began after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel on March 2 in support of Iran following the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war.

    Lebanon’s Health Ministry says more than 3,269 people have been killed and over 9,800 wounded since the conflict began, while more than one million people have been displaced.

    Israeli officials say at least 23 Israeli soldiers, a defense contractor, and two civilians have also been killed during the fighting, most in drone attacks.

  • Lebanon Death Toll Surpasses 3,000 as Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates Amid Fragile Ceasefire

    Lebanon Death Toll Surpasses 3,000 as Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates Amid Fragile Ceasefire

    Lebanon Death Toll Surpasses 3,000 as Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates Amid Fragile Ceasefire

    The death toll in Lebanon has climbed past 3,000 as fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group continues despite an ongoing ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

    Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced Monday that at least 3,020 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the latest round of violence erupted on March 2. Among the dead are 292 women and 211 children, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis unfolding across the country.

    The conflict intensified after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. Since then, cross-border violence has expanded into a broader military confrontation, with Israel carrying out heavy bombardments across southern Lebanon, Beirut, and other regions.

    Israeli officials say the military campaign is focused on preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities and rearming. Israeli forces continue to occupy large areas of southern Lebanon while targeting suspected Hezbollah positions.

    The ongoing fighting has displaced more than one million people across Lebanon. Thousands of families have been forced to seek shelter in makeshift camps, tents, and crowded public areas, particularly along roadsides and coastal zones in Beirut.

    Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered during talks in Washington that began on April 17, attacks from both sides have continued almost daily. The truce was recently extended by another 45 days, and both countries are expected to send military delegations for direct talks scheduled for May 29.

    However, Hezbollah has rejected participation in the negotiations and continues to oppose normalization efforts between Lebanon and Israel. The militant group remains closely aligned with Iran, which is also engaged in separate negotiations with the United States through Pakistani mediation.

    On Monday, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in several towns near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre ahead of planned airstrikes. In another deadly development, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group confirmed that one of its officials and his daughter were killed in an Israeli strike in the city of Baalbek near the Syrian border.

    Israeli leaders have described the talks as a potential step toward broader diplomatic relations with Lebanon, while Lebanese officials insist they are only seeking a security agreement that would ensure Israeli troop withdrawals without formal normalization.

    U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly encouraged a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though Aoun has reportedly declined direct talks for now amid growing domestic tensions and protests inside Lebanon.

    The conflict has also taken a toll on Israeli forces and civilians. Since the fighting began, at least 20 Israeli soldiers, two civilians, and a defense contractor working in southern Lebanon have been killed. United Nations peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon have also suffered casualties, with six personnel reported dead after being caught in the crossfire.