Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight in Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Talks

Israeli airstrikes killed eight people in Lebanon on Thursday, just a day after a conditional ceasefire plan was agreed upon by Lebanese and Israeli representatives in the United States. Five people were killed in eastern Lebanon, while three more lost their lives near Tyre. Eight others were injured, including women and children, as the conflict persists along the border. The attacks came shortly after Hezbollah rejected the truce, insisting that any agreement must include a complete ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.

Hezbollah Rejects Conditional Ceasefire Proposal

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticized the conditional ceasefire plan and called for a comprehensive truce, arguing that the Lebanese government should halt negotiations with Israel. He warned that northern Israel would remain vulnerable if hostilities continued. Previous agreements failed to prevent ongoing violence, and Qassem urged that any ceasefire must restrict Israel’s freedom to conduct military operations, labeling the prior talks a “farce and humiliation.”

Ongoing Tensions and Israeli Military Response

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz affirmed that the military would continue operations without returning populations to certain areas while dismantling terrorist infrastructure. The Israeli military also reported the first casualty among its forces, 21-year-old Captain Eitan Shmuel Lemberg, during combat operations in southern Lebanon. Both sides remain on high alert as sporadic exchanges continue, complicating diplomatic efforts toward a lasting peace.