Israel has insisted that military operations in Lebanon will continue despite United States President Donald Trump’s ceasefire announcement of a temporary suspension of planned military action against Iran.
Israel’s position was outlined yesterday by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which stated that Trump’s two-week pause “does not include Lebanon,” even as reports of artillery and drone strikes continued.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating in the conflict, said Iran, the US, and their allies had “agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere,” as he announced the ceasefire overnight.
Israel, however, said it supports Trump’s decision to pause strikes on Iran if Tehran opens the Strait of Hormuz and halts attacks across the region, while maintaining that Lebanon is a separate conflict.
A spokesperson for the Israeli military said on Wednesday that it was “continuing its operations” against Hezbollah and urged civilians in southern Lebanon to move north of the Zahrani River.
According to reports, Iran’s proposed peace plan includes ending the war against all groups aligned with it, including Hezbollah, but Trump’s ceasefire announcement did not mention Lebanon.
On Sunday, Netanyahu told Israel’s security cabinet that any ceasefire with Iran would not extend to Lebanon, with both political and military leaders agreeing the war should continue.
Trump later informed Netanyahu of the ceasefire decision shortly before making the announcement, following talks mediated in Pakistan between the US and Iran.
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, criticised the government’s handling of the situation.
“There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasn’t even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security,” he posted.
Before the ceasefire was announced, Israeli forces struck targets in Lebanon, including a car in Saida, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Further artillery and drone strikes were reported in the south, including in Qana and al-Qleileh.
Israel’s military also issued warnings in Arabic for residents in Tyre to leave specific areas ahead of possible airstrikes.
Hezbollah did not respond overnight, though Lebanese sources said the group was expected to clarify its position on the ceasefire and Netanyahu’s remarks.
Residents in southern Lebanon began returning home early Wednesday, leading to heavy traffic on major roads, even as Hezbollah warned against going back to some areas due to the presence of Israeli troops.
Messages shared among residents reflected uncertainty over whether Lebanon would be included in Trump’s ceasefire announcement.
The conflict in Lebanon has lasted nearly five weeks and displaced more than 1.1 million people, many of whom remain without shelter.
Air raids targeting Israel were reported earlier in the night but stopped before dawn, shortly after Sharif’s announcement. No further attacks have been reported since.
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