Israel Escalates Attacks in Eastern Lebanon Despite Ceasefire

Israel launched new air raids on the eastern part of Lebanon, breaking the calm that a ceasefire agreement had tried to bring. The strikes hit areas in the Bekaa Valley for the first time since mid‑April, when a U. S. ‑mediated pause had reduced but not stopped fighting with the Iranian‑backed group Hezbollah. The military said it was targeting infrastructure that it believes belongs to Hezbollah, as well as other sites in southern Lebanon. Reports indicate the attacks focused near the town of Nabi Chit, close to the Syrian border. No immediate injuries were reported from this wave of bombings. Lebanon’s own news outlets noted that the latest raids caused at least three wounded people in the south. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed it hit an Israeli tank with a drone; Israel replied that the drone detonated near its forces without causing casualties.The conflict has already taken more than 2, 500 lives since early March, when Hezbollah’s rockets against Israel triggered a broader campaign. The war has split Lebanese society over support for the group and the idea of peace talks with Israel. Diplomats from both countries have met in Washington to discuss how to enforce the ceasefire and move toward a lasting settlement. Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, condemned these talks as an unnecessary concession, saying the organization would keep resisting. President Joseph Aoun defended his government’s decision to engage in negotiations, suggesting that those who push Lebanon into war for external gains are the real traitors. He questioned whether those who led the country into conflict had first sought national agreement.