A newly announced ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel faced an immediate challenge on Friday after Lebanese media reported an Israeli airstrike in the country’s south shortly after the truce came into force.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said the strike targeted the Jabal al-Rafee area near the southern town of Sajd. The reported attack came after the ceasefire took effect at 4 pm local time.
The development unfolded as Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that the group would respond with force if it came under attack, even as Lebanese officials reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire arrangement.
Fresh Israeli strikes kill five in south Lebanon
The fragile situation appeared to deteriorate further on Saturday after Lebanon’s National News Agency reported a fresh wave of Israeli strikes across parts of southern Lebanon.
According to the agency, five people were killed in the attacks, including a Lebanese Army soldier and two children. An airstrike targeting the Kfarremane roundabout reportedly killed the soldier, while strikes on the town of Barish left four members of the same family dead, including a father, mother and their two children.
The NNA also reported strikes in Sohmur and Shibl in the Jezzine area, as well as three airstrikes on the Hima Labaya area. A drone was also reported flying at low altitude over Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Civil Defence teams and paramedics from the Islamic Risala Scout Association and the Islamic Health Society were continuing search and rescue operations, with several people believed to remain trapped under debris.
The agency said Israeli attacks were also reported in Kfarreman, Habboush, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Choukine, Zebdine and Kfarjouz, while Nabatieh city was subjected to a series of intense raids.
According to Israel’s Jerusalem Post, the Israeli Defence Forces had not commented on the latest strikes.
Hezbollah says threats will not deter resistance
In a televised address broadcast by al-Manar TV, Qassem said Hezbollah would confront Israel with weapons if attacked and insisted that threats against the group’s members would not change its position.
“The project to eliminate Hezbollah and entrench the occupation has failed, and the Israelis will withdraw from every last inch of our land,” he said.
Qassem described the current period as one of the most dangerous stages facing Lebanon. He accused Israel of pursuing an “American-Israeli project” aimed at shaping the country’s future and alleged that efforts were being made to turn Lebanon’s political leadership against the resistance movement.
He also accused Israel of obstructing reconstruction efforts in areas affected by the conflict.
Hezbollah reiterates position on ceasefire
According to Qassem, Hezbollah’s weapons are directed only at Israel. He called on Israel to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Earlier in the day, Ibrahim al-Moussawi, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc “Loyalty to the Resistance,” said the group would continue adhering to the ceasefire agreement as long as Israel also complied with its terms.
Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 3,980 people and injured 12,001 others.
Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir drew criticism after calling for intensified military action in Lebanon in a post on X on Friday.
“For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!” he wrote.
Ben-Gvir also said Israel’s foremost responsibility was to protect its citizens and soldiers, adding that this commitment took precedence over other considerations.
“Enough with the ping-pong. In the Middle East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint—you need to go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror,” he wrote.