The ceasefire collapses: at least 16 dead in Israeli strikes in Lebanon

At least 16 people were killed Saturday in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, just hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. According to the Lebanese Civil Defense, the attacks hit several areas in the south of the country as well as the Bekaa Valley.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out a series of strikes on various sites. These operations occurred amid heightened tensions despite the recent announcement of a truce intended to end the fighting between the two sides.

The Israeli military claimed to have acted in response to rocket fire attributed to Hezbollah. An Israeli military official stated that more than 50 projectiles were fired at Israeli forces deployed in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting a counterattack targeting what he described as "Hezbollah targets."

In a statement, the Israeli army asserted that these attacks constituted a repeated violation of the ceasefire. It nevertheless affirmed its commitment to the truce in accordance with Israeli political directives, while promising to respond firmly to any attack targeting its soldiers or civilians.

For its part, Hezbollah also affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire. However, the Iranian-backed movement warned that it would react to any Israeli attempt to seize new territory or expand its military presence in southern Lebanon.

This new outbreak of violence raises fears of a swift collapse of the ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides. The clashes also occur within a sensitive regional context, as tensions between Israel, Iran, and their allies continue to weigh on diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

Observers now fear that these incidents could further jeopardize ongoing de-escalation efforts and undermine broader talks involving the United States and Iran. The situation on the ground remains highly volatile, despite public commitments from both sides to a truce.