Lebanon fighting surges as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire falters

Israeli forces reported the loss of four soldiers following an ambush by Hezbollah fighters, who claimed to have destroyed three Merkava tanks with guided missiles. The military action followed a series of intense bombardments across 11 towns, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting 33 wounded and warning that the death toll will likely climb as rescue teams struggle to reach victims trapped under rubble in the village of Harouf.

Israel justified the strikes as a response to repeated ceasefire violations, maintaining that its ongoing presence in a self-declared security zone is essential to prevent further cross-border attacks. Meanwhile, hardline cabinet members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have publicly repudiated the U.S.-Iran pact. Smotrich demanded a severe military response, urging the government to open the “gates of hell,” while Israeli officials continue negotiations with the Trump administration to retain a 10-kilometer buffer zone inside Lebanese territory. Since March 2, the conflict has claimed 3,912 lives in Lebanon and at least 36 lives on the Israeli side.