Lebanon Strikes Kill Dozens Even After Ceasefire, US-Iran Deal at Risk

Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon hours after a ceasefire announcement. At least seven people stayed buried under rubble, Lebanon’s news agency reported.

Israeli strikes pounded southern Lebanon on Saturday. They killed at least 16 people, including two children. The attacks came just hours after word of a ceasefire deal spread. The ongoing violence now threatens a fragile US-Iran agreement meant to end the wider Middle East war.

Strikes Hit Nabatiyeh and Nearby Villages

Lebanon’s National News Agency confirmed the strikes struck the southern town of Nabatiyeh. Nearby villages were also hit hard. At least seven people remained trapped beneath collapsed buildings, the agency said.

Mediators rushed to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. A brutal exchange on Friday had already killed 47 people in Lebanon. Four Israeli soldiers also died in that clash.

An Israeli military official said Hezbollah launched over 50 projectiles overnight. The attack targeted Israeli forces stationed in southern Lebanon. This prompted Israel’s military to strike back at Hezbollah positions. The official spoke anonymously, following standard protocol.

Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, posted on X Friday. He said Israel “remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire” if Hezbollah honors the terms and halts hostilities.

Hezbollah responded Saturday, saying it had committed to the ceasefire too. However, the group blamed Israel for breaking it multiple times Friday night. A statement from Hezbollah’s military wing confirmed it would honor the truce. It added the group would still strike back against any Israeli attacks.

A Conflict That Could Sink the US-Iran Deal

War broke out between Hezbollah and Israel right after US and Israeli strikes hit Iran on February 28. Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at northern Israeli towns. Israel responded by capturing large areas of southern Lebanon.

The interim US-Iran deal, signed this week, already reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had shut this vital waterway during the war. That closure had cut global oil and gas supplies sharply. The agreement also plans to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program, a central war issue.

Neither Israel nor Hezbollah signed this deal directly. Yet it demands an end to military action in Lebanon. It also calls for respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty. Continued fighting now puts the entire accord at risk. Planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland, set for Friday, were delayed. No new date has been announced yet.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep troops in southern Lebanon. He said forces will stay until every threat to Israel disappears. Hezbollah refuses to stop attacks unless Israel agrees to fully withdraw. Iran insists this withdrawal is also part of the deal’s terms.

Violence Spreads Across Southern Border Villages

A strike on Barish village killed four family members. Two parents and their two children died in the attack. In Arab Salim village, rescuers pulled a body from a destroyed home. Drone strikes in Doueir and Kfar Rumman killed a motorcyclist and a Lebanese soldier. Nine more people died in strikes across Qannarit, Sohmor, and Shehour villages.

Thick smoke rose over southern Lebanon throughout Saturday. Israeli jets flew low over the coastal city of Tyre.

Tyre residents told the Associated Press they felt some relief. Their city had been spared from recent strikes, they said. Still, the roar of Israeli jets reminded them the war isn’t over. Many doubted any ceasefire, even if confirmed, would actually hold.

“Our entire lives would change if there’s a ceasefire,” said Hussein Khoshman, a Tyre resident.

Netanyahu’s office gave no immediate comment on ceasefire efforts. On Friday, Netanyahu posted on X about ordering strikes on 150 Hezbollah targets. He claimed Israeli forces “struck powerfully” and killed dozens of militants.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israeli troops were working in a “forward defense zone.”He confirmed operations there would continue.

Iran and US Officials Cancel Switzerland Trip

Iranian officials skipped their planned trip to Switzerland this week. They insisted the Lebanon fighting must stop before talks resume. US Vice President JD Vance also pushed back his own travel plans.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei spoke to ISNA news agency Saturday. He said Pakistan’s interior minister would visit Iran soon. This visit is part of continuing negotiation efforts, he explained. Baghaei noted that mediators were still discussing the next negotiation phase. The goal remains drafting a final US-Iran agreement.

Since the initial deal was signed digitally earlier this week, urgency eased somewhat. Plans are now underway for a meeting in the coming days, Baghaei added.

Key Issues Still Need Resolving

The Switzerland talks were meant to focus on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran insists its program serves peaceful purposes only. However, Iran holds a large stockpile of highly enriched uranium. This material sits just below weapons-grade levels.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, that uranium could build multiple atomic bombs. This would happen only if Tehran chose that path.

These talks are expected to prove difficult. The original 2015 nuclear deal took over 18 months to negotiate. President Donald Trump scrapped that earlier agreement during his first term.

The current interim deal gives negotiators 60 days for a nuclear agreement. This deadline could still be extended if needed. It promises major incentives if Iran reaches a new deal. These include lifting all international sanctions eventually. A $300 billion fund for postwar reconstruction is also on the table.

Iran has already gained some concessions from the deal. The US lifted its blockade on Iranian ports recently. Iran can now sell its oil freely on global markets. The deal also calls for unfreezing Iran’s assets, though timing remains unclear.