Tensions are escalating between Israel and Hezbollah following an Israeli strike on Beirut, the first since a ceasefire agreement was reached last month. The strike, which Israel claims targeted a commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan force, threatens to unravel the fragile truce and broader US-Iran de-escalation efforts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation in a joint statement. While Israeli media reported the commander’s death, neither the Israeli military nor Hezbollah have issued immediate confirmation.
Pursuant to the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has targeted the commander of the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s Radwan Force in Beirut in order to eliminate him.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 6, 2026
The ceasefire, a key demand of Iran, has underpinned a broader US-Iran truce. However, the recent Israeli strike jeopardizes this arrangement as Iran and the US appear to be nearing a deal to halt their conflict. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli troops remain stationed in areas south of the Litani River, and strikes have continued in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah has retaliated by launching rockets and armed drones at Israeli soldiers. Earlier in the week, Israel called for residents to evacuate several villages north of the Litani River, potentially signaling an expansion of its operational zone.
Talks between Israel and Lebanon have continued at the ambassador level. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that any high-level meetings between the two countries are premature, emphasizing that solidifying the ceasefire is paramount for future negotiations.
Salam reiterated that Lebanon is not seeking normalization with Israel but rather aiming for peace, with a timetable for Israeli withdrawal as a minimum demand. He also affirmed the government’s commitment to restricting weapons to state control, an effort aimed at disarming Hezbollah.
President Aoun echoed Salam’s sentiments, stating that a security agreement and cessation of Israeli attacks must precede any high-level meeting.
Israel maintains a self-declared security zone extending up to 10 kilometers into southern Lebanon, citing the need to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah fighters embedded in civilian areas.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, an Israeli airstrike in the town of Zelaya resulted in the deaths of four people, including two women and an elderly man. The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched explosive drones and rockets at Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, injuring two. Additionally, the Israeli air force claims to have intercepted a hostile aircraft before it crossed into Israel and conducted strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon.
Since March 2, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 2,700 people in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. The Israeli military reports that Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel during the same period, resulting in the deaths of 17 soldiers in southern Lebanon and two civilians in northern Israel.
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