Israel carried out a new series of air strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, striking multiple towns less than a day after Israel and Lebanon participated in their first direct talks in decades. The renewed bombardment underscores the fragility of the ceasefire that took effect in November 2024 following 13 months of conflict.

Residents of Mjadel, Baraachit, Jbaa and Mahrouna were urged to evacuate areas surrounding locations the Israeli military described as weapons warehouses linked to Hezbollah. Although no casualties were reported, the strikes heightened fears of renewed escalation across the border.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the targeted sites represented a “clear ceasefire violation,” adding that Israel would continue operations “to remove any threat” posed by Hezbollah’s expanding military infrastructure. Israel has conducted near-daily strikes on Lebanese territory since the ceasefire began, claiming repeated violations by the Iranian-backed group.

Lebanon’s government did not immediately respond to Thursday’s attacks. Lebanese politicians have, however, consistently condemned similar Israeli actions in recent months, describing them as breaches of the ceasefire agreement and violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

Under the first phase of the US- and France-brokered ceasefire plan, Israeli troops were expected to withdraw from positions in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, in turn, was to remove its fighters and weaponry from areas south of the Litani River — a buffer zone extending roughly 30km from the Israeli border. The group and its political allies have opposed this condition, arguing it compromises Lebanon’s defence posture.

Despite the agreement, Israel has maintained several strategic border positions and intensified its air operations, moves officials say are driven by Hezbollah’s attempts to restore infrastructure damaged during the conflict. Israeli authorities argue that Lebanon’s government has done little to enforce Hezbollah’s disarmament, a key requirement of the ceasefire framework.

Thursday’s strikes came just hours after civilian envoys from both nations met in the border town of Naqoura, marking their first direct interaction in decades. The meeting took place under the umbrella of the ceasefire monitoring committee at the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL.

Until this week, the committee had consisted solely of military representatives from Israel, Lebanon, the United States, France and UNIFIL. The decision to send civilian envoys signalled a rare diplomatic step forward, even as violence on the ground continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the meeting as taking place in a “good atmosphere” and noted that both sides had agreed to explore avenues for economic cooperation. The statement emphasised, however, that such cooperation could only advance alongside progress on Hezbollah’s disarmament, which Israel views as non-negotiable.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam struck a far more cautious tone. He dismissed any suggestion of diplomatic normalisation with Israel, insisting that the focus remained on reducing tensions and ensuring full adherence to the ceasefire terms.

“We are not yet at peace talks,” Salam said, outlining Lebanon’s priorities: cessation of hostilities, the release of Lebanese detainees held in Israel, and complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. He added that Beirut was open to deploying French and US troops to help verify Hezbollah’s disarmament, a proposal that may face opposition from within Lebanon’s political landscape.

The dual developments — renewed Israeli strikes and tentative diplomatic engagement — coincided with a visit by a UN Security Council delegation to Lebanon. The delegation is assessing progress on the ceasefire’s implementation, which has stalled amid disagreements and repeated violations by both sides.

For now, the strikes highlight the gap between diplomatic overtures and realities on the ground. As both nations grapple with internal pressures and regional dynamics, the path to a lasting settlement remains clouded by mistrust, political constraints and the enduring shadow of Hezbollah’s military presence.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members