Israel’s Airstrikes on Lebanon Threaten Fragile Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions with Gaza

Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after intercepting three rockets fired from the area. The strikes targeted Hezbollah-controlled rocket launch sites, escalating tensions and risking the fragile ceasefire agreed last November. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the rocket attack and reaffirmed its commitment to the truce. The strikes resulted in two deaths and eight injuries in Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned that another war would devastate Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel has ramped up military operations in Gaza, and tensions within Israel are rising following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s dismissal of the intelligence chief. Israel’s defense minister has ordered more territory to be seized in Gaza, threatening continued occupation unless Hamas releases all hostages.

Israel’s Airstrikes on Lebanon Threaten Fragile Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions with Gaza

On Saturday, Israel conducted large-scale airstrikes in southern Lebanon after intercepting three rockets fired from the region. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted multiple rocket launchers controlled by Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group. These attacks have raised concerns about the collapse of a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which was negotiated in November 2023 after over a year of clashes.

Hezbollah, however, denied involvement in the rocket launches. A spokesperson for the group told the Lebanese newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour that they remain committed to the ceasefire, calling the accusations “baseless.” Meanwhile, Lebanon’s national news agency reported that two people were killed and eight others were injured in the Israeli strikes. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of Lebanon appealed for calm, warning that renewed fighting would devastate a country already struggling with economic and political crises.

Broader Regional Escalation

The violence in Lebanon coincides with heightened Israeli military activity in Gaza. Tensions in Israel have also spiked domestically after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired the head of the country’s domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, sparking accusations of political interference and deepening government instability.

In Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently ordered troops to expand control over territory and threatened to permanently occupy parts of the region unless Hamas releases all remaining hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks. The Israeli military later announced it had killed a senior Hamas intelligence official in southern Gaza, claiming the operation disrupted the group’s command structure.

Ceasefire Under Threat

The recent strikes in Lebanon mark the most serious breach of the November ceasefire. While Hezbollah insists it did not provoke the attack, Israel argues that the rocket fire originated from areas under the group’s control. Analysts warn that further escalation could drag Lebanon into a broader conflict, destabilizing a region already reeling from the Gaza war and internal political strife.

Lebanon, still recovering from a devastating 2020 port explosion and years of economic collapse, fears that renewed war could cripple its infrastructure. Meanwhile, Israel faces growing international pressure to de-escalate, even as its leadership vows to retaliate against threats from militant groups.

Human Cost and Calls for Restraint

Casualties from Saturday’s strikes included civilians, according to Lebanese reports. The UN and several countries have urged both sides to avoid actions that could spiral into all-out war. However, with elections looming in Israel and Hezbollah’s influence growing in Lebanon, the path to dialogue remains uncertain.

As the situation remains volatile, global leaders are pushing for renewed diplomacy to salvage the ceasefire. For now, residents in southern Lebanon and northern Israel brace for the possibility of further violence, fearing a repeat of past conflicts that left thousands dead and displaced.