In brief
Israel’s latest strikes in southern Lebanon mark the first fatal breach of the ceasefire that had held since Sunday. Two civilians were killed near a bulldozer clearing rubble in Nabatieh al‑Fawqa, a small town just east of the Israeli‑controlled security zone. Hezbollah denounced the shooting as a blatant violation, while Israel’s forces claimed they were targeting a group of militants who had ignored warning shots. The incident comes as the conflict’s largest lull is threatened, with diplomats and military leaders warning that any new violence could unravel hard‑won peace efforts in the region.
Israeli soldiers have shot dead two people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry says, in the first fatal incident reported since the latest ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah appeared to take hold at the weekend.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said the men were killed while standing near a bulldozer that was unblocking a road in the town of Nabatieh al‑Fawqa. The victims were identified as Mohammed Amhaz and Sajed al‑Hajj Ali, members of an emergency health team linked to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah condemned the shooting as "a blatant violation of the ceasefire" and said the group had not retaliated yet, but warned that it could react if the violence continued.
Israel’s military stated that soldiers in the Ali al‑Taher ridge area had fired at four Hezbollah militants riding a bulldozer and a motorcycle, who they said posed a threat after ignoring warning shots. In a separate incident, the army claimed to have struck a cell of armed terrorists north of the security zone, though no casualties were reported.
The ceasefire has held for only a week, the longest lull in a conflict that escalated after a March rocket barrage from Hezbollah following an Israeli strike on Iran’s supreme leader. The U.S. has urged Israel to respect the truce, warning that violations could derail broader diplomatic efforts.
As Israeli authorities confirm the deaths, the tension in south‑Lebanon remains high. Peace talks in Washington continue, with both sides hoping to avoid a return to heavy fighting. Meanwhile, displaced families are returning to their homes, signalling that the ceasefire’s reach extends beyond frontline skirmishes.
