Israel Says It Will Continue Operations in Lebanon Despite Trump’s Ceasefire Announcement
Netanyahu vows “no peace in Beirut” until Hezbollah stops attacks, as contradictions emerge between U.S.-led diplomatic efforts and Israel’s expanding military campaign.
TEL AVIV / BEIRUT — Israel has declared it will continue military operations in Lebanon, despite President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah .
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning on Monday, vowing to turn the area of southern Lebanon’s Litani River into a military-controlled zone and to continue striking Beirut until Hezbollah ceases its attacks . “If there is no peace in northern Israel, there will be no peace in Beirut,” Katz said in a statement .
The declaration came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz jointly announced they had ordered the military to strike targets in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold .
The Contradiction: Diplomacy vs. Military Action
The situation on the ground appears to contradict a joint statement issued Wednesday by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon following a fourth round of U.S.-mediated talks at the State Department.
That statement announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and create a number of “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah militants would be banned . The agreement called for the Lebanese Armed Forces to take “exclusive control” of those areas and for Hezbollah to evacuate operatives south of the Litani River .
However, Israeli leaders have made clear that their commitment to the ceasefire is conditional on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire.
“Following the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon by the Hezbollah terror organization and the attacks against our cities and citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to strike terror targets in the Dahiyeh quarter of Beirut,” a joint statement from the two leaders said .
Netanyahu asserted: “There will be no situation in which Hezbollah attacks our cities and citizens while the terror headquarters in Dahiyeh remain off-limits… We are determined to restore security to the residents of the north” .
Israel’s Expanding Military Operations
Recent days have seen a sharp escalation in Israeli military activity inside Lebanon:
Advance Beyond the Litani River
Israeli forces have captured the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, including the strategic castle at its summit — an area beyond the “security zone” Israel has maintained since the ceasefire took effect in mid-April . Media reports described the move as Israel’s “deepest advance into Lebanon” in more than 20 years .
Evacuation Orders
The Israeli military has issued evacuation warnings for residents of at least seven villages in southern Lebanon, including Houmine al-Faouqa, Bnaafoul, Arab Salim, Roumine, Aazze, Arkey, and Jbaa . Civilians were instructed to move at least 1,000 metres away from affected areas as Israeli forces prepare to carry out attacks .
Strikes on Beirut
On Monday, Netanyahu and Katz announced they had ordered strikes on Dahiyeh, the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburb of Beirut. Videos shared on Arab media showed residents fleeing the area following reports of impending Israeli strikes .
An Israeli drone strike Wednesday hit a car on a busy highway just south of Beirut, hours before the second day of talks in Washington were set to take place . The strike in Khaldeh came without warning, and it was not immediately clear if the targeted individual was killed .
Ground Operations and Casualties
An Israeli soldier from an elite commando unit was killed in southern Lebanon by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah. Three other Israeli soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously, in the village of Yohmor . The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah continued to launch rockets and drones toward northern Israel throughout Monday morning .
Iran’s Warning: Lebanon Ceasefire is ‘Non-Negotiable’
Iran has warned that the ceasefire with the United States applies “on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” and that any violation in Lebanon would constitute a breach of the wider ceasefire agreement .
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that “the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts,” adding that the United States and Israel would be “responsible for the consequences of any violation” .
Tehran has also reportedly halted talks and the exchange of draft proposals with the United States through mediators in protest against Israel’s actions in Lebanon, with Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reporting that there would be “no dialogue” until Iran’s demand for an immediate halt to Israeli operations is met .
U.S. Efforts: Separate Tracks and Pilot Zones
President Trump acknowledged the tensions in a New York Post interview, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” by Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah, which he said was holding back peace talks with Iran .
“At some point I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. We got to stop it,” Trump said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname .
The U.S. has been working to separate the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz from the conflict in Lebanon, and Trump suggested there could be progress in negotiations with Iran as soon as this weekend .
The joint statement from the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon said the renewed ceasefire “is contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives” from areas south of the Litani River . The statement called for the Lebanese army to take “full control” of pilot security zones, while the two sides rejected “any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage” — an apparent reference to Iran .
Casualties and Humanitarian Toll
The conflict has taken a devastating toll on Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed more than 3,400 people and wounded over 10,200 others in Lebanon . Large numbers of residents have fled Dahiyeh, causing heavy traffic congestion on roads leading out of the suburb .
What Comes Next
A new round of discussions between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for the week of June 22, with an eye toward “reaching a comprehensive agreement” . But the path toward a lasting ceasefire remains unclear as hostilities continue.
Israel’s demand for the “complete cessation of Hezbollah fire” and the group’s disarmament remains a major obstacle, as Hezbollah is not part of the Israel-Lebanon talks . Israel wants to disarm Hezbollah immediately before ending its military operations, while Lebanon hopes to widen the ceasefire so it becomes comprehensive across the country .
The crisis is further complicated by the fact that both the Iran deal and the Lebanon ceasefire have become “inextricably intertwined” — pushing the United States toward a potential confrontation with its top Middle East ally as it attempts to balance competing diplomatic and military priorities .
As one Israeli official put it, the message to Beirut is clear: “If there is no peace in northern Israel, there will be no peace in Beirut” .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Did President Trump announce a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon?
A: Yes. On Monday, Trump stated that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to dial back hostilities following his calls with Netanyahu and contacts with Hezbollah representatives . A joint statement from the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon was issued Wednesday announcing the renewal of the ceasefire and the establishment of pilot security zones .
Q2: Why is Israel continuing military operations in Lebanon?
A: Israeli leaders say Hezbollah has repeatedly violated the ceasefire by launching rockets, drones, and other attacks toward northern Israel . Netanyahu has declared that Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb will not remain “off-limits” while the group attacks Israeli citizens .
Q3: What are Israel’s stated conditions for a full ceasefire?
A: Israel demands a “complete cessation of Hezbollah fire” and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River . Defense Minister Katz has also vowed to turn the Litani River area into a military-controlled zone .
Q4: What is Iran’s position on the Israel-Lebanon conflict?
A: Iran has warned that the ceasefire with the United States applies “on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” and that any violation would constitute a breach of the wider ceasefire . Tehran has reportedly halted diplomatic exchanges with Washington in protest over Israeli strikes on Lebanon .
Q5: How has the U.S. responded to the conflicting signals?
A: President Trump has acknowledged tensions with Netanyahu over Lebanon. While the U.S. has facilitated the joint ceasefire agreement, it has also approved some Israeli requests to expand military activity in Lebanon to address what Israel describes as Hezbollah violations .
Q6: What is the current casualty toll in Lebanon?
A: According to Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed more than 3,400 people and wounded over 10,200 others in Lebanon .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on the Israel-Lebanon conflict, the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, and the broader U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts.