Israeli Airstrikes Kill At Least 20 in Southern Lebanon After Hezbollah Ceasefire

Israel and Hezbollah continued strikes despite a ceasefire agreement announced less than 24 hours earlier, with Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killing at least 20 people, according to local officials.

“Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed at least 32 people despite a ceasefire being in place, with the violence threatening to derail talks between the United States and Iran aimed at cementing a fragile peace process”

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported that a family of four was killed in the town of Barich in southern Lebanon, after Israeli warplanes, drones, and artillery targeted several areas.

Al Jazeera

In the Nabatieh district, local officials said 16 people were killed, and in neighbouring Saida seven people were killed, with others injured, after the attacks unfolded within a day of the ceasefire announcement.

The Israeli military said it struck "dozens" of Hezbollah targets after Hezbollah fired over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in the region, and it also reported that an Israeli soldier was killed in battle in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

Hezbollah and Israel traded accusations over ceasefire violations, with Hezbollah accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and saying it has the right to "defend their land and sovereignty" in the face of ongoing Israeli attacks.

The BBC quoted Hezbollah’s position that it has the right to "defend their land and sovereignty," while the Israel Defense Forces said it had "struck dozens of Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites and terrorists in southern Lebanon".

BBC

The Guardian reported that Israel’s strikes on Saturday killed at least 16 people, and Lebanon’s civil defence agency said its personnel transported "16 dead and 12 wounded" to hospital in the Nabatieh district.

Al Jazeera said Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people despite a ceasefire being in place, and it reported that Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said 83 people were killed and 141 wounded in Israeli attacks on Friday just after the renewed ceasefire was announced.

The continuing violence in Lebanon threatened to derail US-Iran diplomacy, with Al Jazeera saying the strikes were putting US-Iran talks in peril as envoys prepared to meet in Switzerland on Sunday.

“Israel and Hezbollah continue strikes despite ceasefire agreement At least 20 people have reportedly been killed by Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, less than 24 hours after a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced”

BBC

France 24 reported that the next round of Lebanon-Israel talks would be held June 23–25 in Washington, after a call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The Guardian said Iran warned ships not to approach the Strait of Hormuz after waves of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, and it quoted Donald Trump declaring "NO TOLLS" would be charged on ships seeking to pass through the strait during or after the 60-day interim ceasefire.

In parallel, the BBC reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff was heading to Switzerland for initial talks with Iran to help cement the agreement, while the interim deal’s unresolved disputes included Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon and the future of Hezbollah’s weapons.