Israeli airstrikes kill at least five in Lebanon hours after ceasefire with Hezbollah takes effect

A ceasefire announced, then broken

A senior US official told Reuters on Friday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire, mediated by American and Qatari negotiators with Iran's assistance. The truce was to take effect at 4 p.m. local time and was intended to satisfy a key condition of the preliminary US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed earlier in the week, a halt to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.

“Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire.”

Two Hezbollah sources confirmed the group had implemented the ceasefire from its side. The Israel Defense Forces also announced a truce, while adding that its forces would remain in security zones inside Lebanon and respond to any attack.

Strikes within minutes

Despite the agreement, the IDF launched 12 airstrikes across southern Lebanon in the 45 minutes that followed the 4 p.m. deadline, according to a timeline compiled by Al Jazeera. Targets included Kfar Reman, Nabatieh al-Fawka (struck three times), Kfar Sir (struck three times), Jabal al-Rafie, al-Rayhan, Ansit, and Masir Habush. Artillery fire was reported in the Nabatieh area from 4:48 p.m. onwards.

Lebanese state media said at least five people were killed in overnight and early-morning raids that destroyed residential buildings. Lebanese officials reported that women and children were among the dead. Israel's military said it struck 150 targets and killed "dozens of Hezbollah terrorists". Overall, at least 47 people have died in Israeli raids on Lebanon since Thursday night, and four Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes with Hezbollah, according to the reports.

Netanyahu praises the military

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention the ceasefire in his public statements. Instead, he posted on social media that the IDF had acted "exactly as I instructed them" and that Hezbollah would "pay a very heavy price" for any aggression. After the four soldiers were killed, one identified as Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gandliah Ben Shimhon, Netanyahu said he had ordered the IDF to "strike Hezbollah with full force."

“My directive is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on its soldiers or its territory, and Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price for any such aggression.”

Iran suspends talks, warns of wider consequences

Iran immediately condemned the Israeli strikes as a violation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said ending the war in Lebanon was an integral part of the agreement to halt hostilities on all fronts. Iran suspended the second stage of the 60-day accord, pulling out of talks scheduled to begin Friday in Geneva.

“Iran's new leadership views Lebanon as integral to its own national security, because previous Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in 2024 opened the path to a direct conflict with Iran.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of seeking a "perpetual war" after National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared that "all of Lebanon must burn." Iran's Revolutionary Guards also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz again and take retaliatory measures against Israel.

Trump intervenes, new diplomatic track opens

Facing the risk of a collapsed deal and a re-closure of the Hormuz chokepoint, President Donald Trump personally pressed Israeli officials to halt operations. "They just need to calm down sometimes and use their brains," he told NBC News, without confirming whether he spoke directly with Netanyahu.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later called Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and reaffirmed the necessity of disarming Hezbollah. The State Department then announced that a new round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon would take place in Washington from 23 to 25 June.

“A comprehensive ceasefire would be the fundamental basis for progress in the direct talks with Israel.”

Rami Khouri, a public policy fellow at the American University of Beirut, described the moment as a test for all parties.

“We have really reached a moment of confrontation here for the United States, for Israel, for the Arab states, and for the mediators. Everyone is being tested.”