Israel carries out blasts across south Lebanon despite ‘ceasefire’ deal

What Happened

The Israeli army attacked the southern Lebanese town of al-Mansouri and carried out explosions in Majdal Zoun, with blasts heard 15 kilometres away in Tyre, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported on Friday. This follows an Israeli strike on an ambulance in Nabatieh al-Fawqa on Thursday that injured two medics, which the Lebanese Health Ministry called a 'flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws and norms.' The incidents occurred despite a US-brokered ceasefire framework and ongoing talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials. Israel has been systematically levelling villages near the border, with Israeli officials declaring the objective of erasing Lebanese towns to create a 'security zone.' The framework, signed in Washington on June 26, envisages the Lebanese army taking over Israeli-occupied territories in the south provided Hezbollah is disarmed, but Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected the deal as 'null and void' and called for armed resistance. The Lebanese army this week deployed to the first pilot-zone villages of Froun and Ghandouriyeh, though residents say these were never occupied by Israeli forces, arguing that Israel has not returned any territory.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The attacks demonstrate that the ceasefire framework remains unimplemented and contested, with Israel continuing military operations and Hezbollah rejecting the deal. Israel’s systematic village demolitions mirror tactics used in Gaza, raising humanitarian and legal alarms. The lack of a withdrawal timeline and the Lebanese army’s deployment only to unoccupied villages underscore the deal’s fragility. This paralysis risks renewed escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border, undermines UNSCR 1701, and tests the credibility of US mediation in a conflict that has already killed over 4,000 people and displaced thousands.

Watch For

The next round of talks scheduled for August 4 in Italy; whether Israeli forces halt demolitions or withdraw from any occupied territory; Hezbollah’s military response to ongoing attacks and the army’s deployment; potential international pressure or UNIFIL mandate adjustments if the ceasefire framework collapses.