---
Beirut, Lebanon – A fragile, year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is being tested as a recent series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed several people, fueling fears of a renewed, wider conflict and compounding a severe humanitarian crisis.
In the latest escalation, an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle near the town of Toul killed two people. A separate attack targeted a bulldozer in the town of Khiam, while another person was killed in a strike on a vehicle in Harouf, bringing the death toll from Israeli attacks in a 48-hour period to eight. The Israeli military stated that its actions are aimed at Hezbollah fighters and weapons facilities.
These strikes are the latest in a pattern of ongoing hostilities that have undermined a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement established in November 2024. That truce, which followed the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, permitted actions taken in "self-defense." However, Lebanese officials and residents argue Israel’s broad interpretation of this clause has led to a state of continuous, low-level warfare.
Since the ceasefire was declared, UN data indicates Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes, compared to 21 projectiles fired from Lebanon. The violence has resulted in over 270 Lebanese deaths, including more than 100 civilians, according to reports.
The conflict, which dramatically escalated after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, has had a devastating impact on civilians in southern Lebanon. “For us, the war never ended,” said Zeinab Mehdi, a resident of the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, speaking to Reuters. Satellite imagery confirms significant destruction to homes, farms, and infrastructure in towns like Naqoura and Houla, much of it occurring months after the supposed truce.
Aid organizations report that over 64,000 people remain displaced, with many living in temporary shelters in the city of Tyre. Community-led initiatives, such as food kitchens supported by the U.N. Women's agency, are struggling to meet the basic needs of a traumatized and uprooted population. The World Bank estimates that reconstruction in the affected areas will require $11 billion, but efforts are stalled, partly due to international conditions tied to the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Amid the persistent violence, international diplomatic efforts are underway to stabilize the region. The United States has established a Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, staffed by approximately 200 U.S. military personnel alongside Israeli, British, and Canadian officers. A key objective is the formation of an international security force for Gaza, a central part of a broader ceasefire plan.
However, this initiative faces significant hurdles, including a lack of firm commitment from Arab and other international nations, Hamas's refusal to disarm, and uncertainty over the rules of engagement. As diplomats work to prevent a larger conflagration, the people of southern Lebanon remain caught in a cycle of drone surveillance, sudden airstrikes, and profound instability, uncertain if or when a true peace will return.