Israel initiates new attacks on southern Lebanon following warnings

On Thursday, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon, focusing on Hezbollah positions, the Israeli military confirmed. The strikes came a day after the first direct talks in decades were held between civilian representatives from Lebanon and Israel.

Although a ceasefire in November 2024 was intended to end over a year of clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed group, Israel has continued periodic attacks and maintained troops in five strategically significant areas in southern Lebanon.

The visit of Pope Leo XIV from Sunday to Tuesday temporarily reduced Israeli air raids, and during his visit, he called for an end to hostilities. However, the Israeli army announced on Thursday that it had resumed strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, initially warning of attacks on buildings in Mahrouna and Jbaa.

Further warnings were issued for potential strikes on Hezbollah facilities in Majadal and Baraasheet. Lebanons National News Agency reported that Israeli jets struck Mahrouna, while other raids affected structures in Jbaa, Majadal, and Baraasheet. An AFP photographer documented smoke rising from the targeted site in Jbaa.

Lebanons government supports disarming Hezbollah, but the group has resisted, raising fears of a wider Israeli military campaign in the country.

On Wednesday, civilian representatives from Lebanon and Israel unexpectedly met at the UN peacekeeping headquarters in Naqura, near the border, under the ceasefire monitoring mechanism. This committee, which includes the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel, and the UN force, usually meets to oversee the ceasefire.

Lebanon and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized that the recent talks did not represent broader peace negotiations, but were aimed solely at implementing the truce, halting hostilities, securing the release of Lebanese hostages, and ensuring full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the United States has urged Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah quickly and encouraged direct dialogue between the two nations. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the talks as positive and noted agreements to explore potential economic cooperation, while stressing that Hezbollahs disarmament remains a non-negotiable priority.

Until now, Israel and Lebanon, which lack formal diplomatic ties, limited ceasefire discussions to military officers. The US envoy Morgan Ortagus also attended the Naqura meetings, having met with Israeli officials in Jerusalem the previous day.

Author: Sophia Brooks