Israel resumes strikes on southern Lebanon amid disputed US-brokered peace deal

What happened

Al Jazeera Lebanon reports that Israel resumed air strikes on southern Lebanon on Sunday, just two days after signing a US-backed agreement designed to end hostilities with Lebanon. The National News Agency of Lebanon (NNA) reported several attacks in the south, including drone overflights near Baalbek and simulated warplane raids on nearby highlands, following at least one confirmed death from an Israeli air attack, marking the first fatality since the ceasefire was declared.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The agreement, negotiated over five rounds in Washington, is presented by both Lebanon and Israel as a victory on different terms but faces rejection from Hezbollah and far-right Israeli officials. Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem called the deal a “humiliating surrender” and vowed that his fighters would not withdraw. Meanwhile, Israel’s defense minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces would maintain an extended presence in the buffer zone inside Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed.

Israeli military sources confirmed their strikes targeted Hezbollah members near the designated buffer zone where Israeli troops remain deployed. The Israeli army reported one soldier killed in combat near the southern border—Captain David Hazutt, a platoon commander in an elite infantry brigade—and another lightly wounded. Despite ongoing operations, Israel’s military leadership claims these remain consistent with the ceasefire terms.

Known from the source

• Israel conducted air strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, days after a US-brokered peace agreement.
• The Lebanese National News Agency reported drone flights over Baalbek and simulated Israeli air raids.
• At least one Lebanese fatality from Israeli attacks was reported since the ceasefire deal.
• The Israeli army confirmed one soldier, Captain David Hazutt, was killed and another lightly wounded near the Lebanese border.
• Hezbollah rejected the ceasefire agreement and refused to withdraw.

What remains unclear

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam framed the deal as aiming for Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, but the text ties any withdrawal to the disarmament of Hezbollah. Lebanese Parliament member Hassan Fadlallah warned that attempts by the Lebanese army to enforce the deal risk igniting internal conflict, as Hezbollah supporters have protested in Beirut. Far-right Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the deal for giving Hezbollah a lifeline and dismissed the prospect of the Lebanese army disarming the group.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact terms and enforcement mechanisms of the US-brokered peace agreement. Verification of the number and identity of casualties on both sides since the deal. Confirmation of ongoing Israeli military actions inside Lebanon including drone and air activity.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Al Jazeera Lebanon. Open the source.