Ongoing Conflict Between Israel and Hezbollah Challenges Ceasefire Efforts

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah showed no signs of ending on Friday, following the rejection of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire by the Iran-backed militant group. Israeli forces continued their assault on southern Lebanon, prompting evacuation orders for residents.

The ceasefire agreement, announced after talks in Washington, faces uncertainty as Hezbollah was not part of the negotiations. The deal requires Hezbollah to withdraw from Lebanon’s border with Israel and cease attacks. However, Israel has made no concessions and plans to maintain its offensive until these terms are satisfied.

Many civilians in southern Lebanon continue to face evacuation orders from the Israeli military. According to Lebanese authorities, over one million people have been displaced since the conflict’s onset in March, with no clear timeline for their return.

Lebanon’s government has little oversight over Hezbollah, complicating efforts to enforce the ceasefire. The orders on Friday affected Anqoun, a town 16 miles from the Israeli border, which had previously avoided such directives. Anqoun was sheltering around 2,500 displaced individuals who were forced to leave once more.

Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, condemned the ceasefire as a ‘humiliating’ submission to Israel, insisting any agreement must include Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, indicated that operations in Lebanon would continue, stating that displaced residents could not return yet. The ongoing conflict complicates U.S. President Trump’s negotiations with Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer, which threatens to exit peace talks if Israel persists in its attacks.

This report includes contributions from Johnatan Reiss and is reported by Euan Ward, a Times correspondent in Beirut covering Lebanon and Syria.