Ceasefire Announced But Fighting Continues in Southern Lebanon

Israel has maintained active military operations throughout southern Lebanon even as announcements of a ceasefire arrangement between Israeli and Hezbollah forces circulated on Tuesday. President Trump declared that an understanding had been reached for a mutual cessation of attacks, yet the situation on the ground tells a different story.

Hezbollah has demonstrated restraint by confining its military response to Israeli forces operating within Lebanese territory, refraining from strikes into Israeli population centers. The organization has publicly rejected any framework that would equate attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs with operations against Israeli settlements in the north.

Mahmoud Qamati, Vice-President of Hezbollah's Political Council, stated in a television interview that the party had agreed to a "real and comprehensive ceasefire." He emphasized the party's refusal to accept linkage between the southern suburbs and northern Israeli settlements, describing such an equation as untenable. Qamati warned that any strikes targeting the southern suburbs would trigger responses reaching deeper into Israeli territory than northern settlements, signaling that operations would continue should Israeli attacks persist.

Israeli officials have contradicted claims of ceasefire implementation. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared that Israel would strike Beirut's southern suburbs if attacks on northern Israel continue, insisting his country would not tolerate bombardment of the north without proportional response. He stated that Israeli military activity within Lebanon would proceed regardless of circumstances, citing what he described as "new equations" adopted by the United States and communicated to the Lebanese government. The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire despite repeated statements of restraint.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Trump that Israel would target Beirut if Lebanese attacks continued, reaffirming plans for ongoing operations in southern Lebanon.

The intensity of ground operations has escalated despite diplomatic developments. Israeli forces expanded evacuation warnings to residents of Nabatieh and surrounding areas, ordering immediate departure northward across the Zahrani River. Extensive bombardment followed, striking Nabatieh, Kafr Benit, Al-Duwair, Shahhour, Toul, Gebshit, Al-Haniya, Al-Ghandouria, Aba, Kafrsir, Al-Jarmaq, Mahmoudiyah, Kafr Rumman, Debaal, Tibnine's surroundings, Srifa, Burj Qalawayh, Ansar, and Zibdin.

Israeli drone strikes targeted vehicles in Harouf, Toul, Srifa, and Ansar, resulting in casualties. Two Syrian workers were killed in a raid on a nursery in Jabshit. The Lebanese Army Command reported two soldiers moderately injured from a drone strike on the Habboush-Deir Al-Zahrani road.

Nabatieh experienced intense aerial and artillery bombardment affecting Kassar al-Zaatar, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kafr Rumman, Kafr Benit, Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Ayta al-Jabal, Shokin, and Harj Ali al-Taher. Additional strikes targeted Mansouri, Srifa, Shahhour, and Ghandouriya.

In Sidon, the Lebanese Civil Defense recovered six bodies from rubble in Marwaniyah following a Monday night Israeli raid on a residential building. The Ministry of Health confirmed two children and one woman were among the deceased. The strike occurred hours after an Israeli evacuation warning.

Tyre sustained significant casualties when raids targeted buildings near Jabal Amel Hospital, leaving four dead and approximately 50 wounded. Hospital departments, parking facilities, and surrounding structures sustained extensive damage. A destroyed house in the Al-Housh area resulted in two injuries.

Hezbollah reported conducting operations exclusively against advancing Israeli forces in southern Lebanon without announcing strikes into Israeli territory. The organization stated it targeted a Merkava tank on the eastern outskirts of Yammar al-Shaqif and detonated two explosive devices against an Israeli armored force attempting an eighth advance toward Hadatha within two weeks, hitting two Merkava tanks in the Al-Balou' area. An Israeli force consisting of a tank and three Hummer vehicles advancing toward the Hamra area north of Al-Bayada was also targeted.