Israel Defense Forces Strike Kills Lebanese Army Figure Near Nabatieh as Hezbollah Fires Projectiles

Israel and Hezbollah continued fighting into Saturday despite agreeing to a renewed ceasefire, once again putting the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding in jeopardy.

“Israel's Public Broadcasting Authority reported that the army will begin in the coming days to reduce its forces in southern Lebanon after completing most of its offensive missions, while Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said that Israel will not stay in Lebanon, and that the party will respond to any violation”

Al-Jazeera Net

The Washington Examiner says intense fighting broke out on Friday morning after a relative lull, and that Iran lodged complaints and threatened to withdraw from negotiations completely.

Al-Jazeera Net

The same article reports that the renewed ceasefire was broken once again on Saturday, with both sides accusing the other of instigating the violence.

It adds that the Israel Defense Forces said Hezbollah had launched over 50 projectiles targeting IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, necessitating a response.

The Lebanese Army condemned Israel’s strikes on Saturday, saying the continuation of Israel’s brutal attacks aims to obstruct any solution that would allow the restoration of stability in Lebanon, and it said a “military figure in the army” was killed in an Israeli strike near Nabatieh.

Al-Jazeera Net reports that Israel is preparing to reduce its forces in southern Lebanon after completing most of its offensive missions, while Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejected “freedom of movement”.

It says Israel’s Public Broadcasting Authority reported the army will begin in the coming days to reduce its forces deployed in southern Lebanon, and that this news coincided with the army’s announcement of removing restrictions on the home front in the towns of the northern region on Monday morning.

Masrawy

The outlet also quotes Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on X saying, “There is no intention to withdraw from Qal'at al-Shuqif because it is an integral part of the security zone and necessary to defend the towns of the Galilee and our forces.”

Al-Jazeera Net adds that Netanyahu, according to his office, stressed that Israeli forces will remain in what Israel calls the security zone in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary to protect the residents of the North,” and that “nothing will change this commitment.”

On the other hand, it reports that Qassem said, “our decision is no return to what existed before March 2, and no ceasefire with freedom of movement for Israel.”

Al-Jazeera Net describes a cautious calm over southern Lebanon on Sunday, saying no Israeli airstrikes were reported in the area and Hezbollah did not announce any operation against the Israeli army.

“Switzerland continues to provide ​a "discreet and ‌reliable setting" at Burgenstock to ​facilitate discussions ​on implementing a ⁠memorandum of ​understanding between the ​US and Iran, the Swiss foreign ​ministry ​said on Saturday (20 June)”

The Business Standard

It says the calm came after the Israeli army carried out 69 strikes on Lebanon on Saturday, killing 22 people and injuring 18 others, according to Anadolu Agency’s tally.

The outlet further states that since March 2, 2026, Israel has been waging aggression against Lebanon that has killed 4,057 people and injured 12,121 others, in addition to the displacement of more than one million people, according to data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Separately, The Business Standard reports that Switzerland continues to provide a “discreet and reliable setting” at Burgenstock to facilitate discussions on implementing a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

It adds that Switzerland’s foreign ministry said no further details would be disclosed about participants and the content of the talks, citing confidentiality.