Israel to maintain ground operations in southern Lebanon despite new ceasefire agreement

What happened

The Guardian reports that despite an agreed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Israel's defence minister announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue their ground operations and will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, nor allow displaced communities to return. This stance sets a contentious tone as negotiations and ceasefire talks proceed.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure or battlefield claim should be read as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source. Hezbollah has rejected the latest ceasefire agreement, as conveyed by its deputy leader Naim Qassem in a statement aired on the group's Al-Manar TV. Hezbollah insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal and refuses to stop resisting what it terms as occupation, stating the ceasefire terms demand a surrender unacceptable to the group. This rejection highlights deep divisions affecting the implementation of any lasting ceasefire.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun outlined in recent talks in Washington that Lebanon's negotiating team, led by Simon Karam, secured terms they consider strongly favourable and described the effort as a "last opportunity" for a comprehensive ceasefire. The US President Donald Trump is positioned as guarantor, with planned implementation potentially starting 24 hours after formal notification to Washington. The negotiation process remains fraught, having required US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's intervention to resume talks after a suspension by the Lebanese side.

Known from the source

• Israel's defence minister stated the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon and will not permit the return of displaced populations.
• Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Qassem issued a statement rejecting the ceasefire agreement and demanding a full Israeli withdrawal.
• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reported that recent talks in Washington produced terms Lebanon considers favourable for a ceasefire, with US President Trump as guarantor.
• The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened to resume suspended negotiations between Lebanon and the US.
• Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least four persons in Lebanon and a UN peacekeeper was killed during crossfire.

What remains unclear

Meanwhile, clashes persist with reported Israeli strikes killing at least four people in Lebanon and a UN peacekeeper killed in the crossfire. The fallout from violence extends to civilian areas in southern Lebanon, with displacement ongoing. The security situation remains unstable as conflicting claims and ceasefire disputes continue to complicate efforts to ensure safety and political resolution.

What remains unclear: Confirm the details and current status of the ceasefire agreement as per official Lebanon and US announcements. Verify casualty figures both for civilians in Lebanon and the UN peacekeeper from independent sources. Authenticate Hezbollah's public statements and confirm if any official Hezbollah leadership has made further clarifications. Clarify the scope and timing of IDF operations in southern Lebanon as separate from ceasefire terms.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: The Guardian Lebanon. Open the source.