Israel wants to enforce any Lebanon ceasefire deal

Amid escalating violence along the Israel-Lebanon border, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised to visiting US envoys that any ceasefire agreement with Lebanon must ensure Israel’s security capabilities and enable the return of displaced northern residents.

The statement came on a day of deadly exchanges, with Hezbollah attacks killing seven Israelis – including a farmer and four foreign workers in Metula, and two civilians near Kiryat Ata. Lebanese officials reported that Israeli strikes had claimed the lives of six health workers in southern Lebanon.

US envoys Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein arrived in Israel as part of diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires in both Lebanon and Gaza. Their visit follows Lebanon’s prime minister expressing optimism about an imminent deal. According to sources, the proposed agreement centers on a 60-day pause that would implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, requiring Hezbollah to withdraw its armed forces north of the Litani River.

The violence has intensified alongside Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Lebanese health officials reported 45 casualties from Israeli attacks over the previous day, bringing the year’s total to 2,865. The UN noted that Israel had ordered the evacuation of Palestinians from the Rashidiyeh refugee camp in southern Lebanon – the first such order affecting an entire camp in the country.

Israel conducted a second day of bombardments around Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, following Wednesday’s heavy airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions near the city’s historic Roman temples. Residents fled the area after Thursday’s warning, with smoke visible from Douris, where Israel said it had struck Hezbollah fuel supplies.

The fighting has created a humanitarian crisis in the region. In the Christian-majority town of Deir al-Ahmar, local official Jean Fakhry described overwhelming challenges in supporting thousands of displaced people, with some forced to sleep in their vehicles.

Hezbollah reported launching multiple attacks against Israeli forces near Khiyam, marking four consecutive days of combat around the strategic hilltop town. In nearby Wazzani, the mayor’s appeals to evacuate over 20 civilians trapped in the crossfire have gone unanswered, highlighting the humanitarian toll of the conflict.

According to sources close to Hezbollah, the group aims to prevent Israeli forces from entering Khiyam to protect local infrastructure. While Hezbollah claims it has successfully defended southern villages from occupation, Israel maintains its ground operations are limited to targeting the group’s military infrastructure.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​