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Partial ceasefire in Lebanon as violence persists
A temporary truce between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held since Monday, though isolated clashes continued overnight in southern Lebanon. Both sides accepted a US-backed plan to halt attacks, but threats of renewed strikes linger.
Terms of the agreement
Under the deal, Hezbollah agreed to stop targeting Israel, while Israel pledged to avoid strikes on Beirut. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, warned that operations would resume if Hezbollah renewed attacks on Israeli cities or civilians. Israeli forces retained the right to act in southern Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump announced the agreement after speaking with both Netanyahu and Hezbollah representatives, stating on Truth Social that "all shooting will stop" and that Israeli troops en route to Beirut had been turned back.
Overnight clashes and warnings
Despite the ceasefire, violence flared early Tuesday. Hezbollah claimed its fighters struck Israeli tanks in the towns of Haddatha and Bayada with missiles and artillery. The Israeli military reported intercepting two projectiles fired from Lebanon but confirmed no injuries.
Lebanon's National News Agency said Israeli airstrikes hit multiple southern areas, including a "very violent" explosion in Debbine caused by a large-scale demolition. Earlier, Netanyahu ordered strikes on "terror targets" in Beirut's southern suburbs in retaliation for Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.
Iran's role and regional tensions
Iran, which backs Hezbollah, warned that Israeli actions in Lebanon threatened the US-Iran ceasefire. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the truce covered "all fronts," including Lebanon, and that violations would breach the broader agreement. Iran's Tasnim news agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), suggested Tehran could suspend indirect US negotiations and activate other fronts, such as the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Trump later countered, claiming talks with Iran were progressing "at a rapid pace." Meanwhile, tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, with the US and Iran exchanging strikes. The US targeted Iranian military sites, while Iran claimed to have hit a US base in Kuwait.
Human and economic toll
Since the conflict began on 2 March, Lebanon's health ministry reported 3,433 deaths, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants. Israel stated that 25 of its soldiers and four civilians had been killed along the border.
The war has disrupted global energy markets, with Brent crude prices surging nearly $5 a barrel on Monday before settling at $95.70. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for a fifth of the world's oil and LNG supplies, has driven volatility in commodity prices.
Diplomatic efforts and uncertain future
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposed a "gradual de-escalation" plan to Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday. The White House has reportedly pressured Israel to limit strikes on Beirut as part of broader negotiations to end the war with Iran.
Despite Trump's optimism about a permanent deal, no formal agreement has been reached. The US has sought to separate Lebanon's conflict from its talks with Iran, though Tehran insists any resolution must include peace in Lebanon.
