Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Fuel Debate Over Scope of US-Iran Ceasefire

By Usaid Siddiqui

The Israeli military conducted airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, resulting in at least 254 deaths and 1,165 injuries, according to Lebanon's civil defense agency. The strikes marked the most intense Israeli operation in Lebanon since fighting with Hezbollah began on March 2, 2026, when the group fired rockets into northern Israel shortly after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.

On Thursday, Israel stated that the strikes also killed a senior aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem.

The operations occurred hours after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire, brokered with Pakistan's assistance, amid a regional conflict that began nearly six weeks ago with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The war has involved multiple fronts, including exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government mediated the deal, stated on Wednesday that the ceasefire encompassed a halt to attacks on all fronts, including Lebanon, where Israel has targeted Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group.

US and Israeli officials, however, maintain that the agreement applies only to direct hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran, excluding Lebanon. President Donald Trump described the Lebanese front as a "separate skirmish" unrelated to the ceasefire.

These differing interpretations have highlighted ambiguities in the agreement's terms, raising concerns about its stability ahead of scheduled talks in Islamabad on Saturday for a potential permanent settlement.

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon. [Mohamed Azakir/Reuters]

Details of Israeli Operations in Lebanon Following Ceasefire Announcement

On Wednesday, shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Israel struck more than 100 targets nationwide, including in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. Lebanon's civil defense reported casualties primarily from airstrikes in populated areas.

Lebanon's doctors' syndicate head, Elias Chlela, issued a call for medical professionals to assist hospitals, one of which requested blood donations. Israeli officials stated the targets included Hezbollah military infrastructure and command centers, such as weapons storage sites embedded in civilian areas, though they provided no immediate evidence.

Lebanese officials and aid organizations reported damage to residential neighborhoods, with hospitals facing capacity issues and emergency services under strain. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri described the strikes on populated areas as a "full-fledged war crime," noting their timing with the ceasefire announcement.

The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, referred to the reported casualties as significant and the destruction as severe.

This escalation follows a pattern of cross-border exchanges. The current Lebanon conflict stems from Hezbollah's March 2 rocket attacks on northern Israel, which Israel attributes to Hezbollah's support for Iran. Prior to that, a November 2024 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire had been violated by both sides; Israel claims Hezbollah conducted over 1,900 violations since then, while Hezbollah accuses Israel of near-daily breaches.

Hezbollah had paused major attacks around the April 8 period leading into the broader ceasefire discussions, per sources close to the group.

Reactions from Ceasefire Parties

A central dispute concerns whether the US-Iran ceasefire extends to Lebanon. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif posted on X: "I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY."

Iran echoed this view. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X, citing Sharif: "US must choose between a ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both. The world sees the events in Lebanon. The ball is in the US’ court." Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that ongoing Israeli operations in Lebanon could undermine the deal and lead to further escalation.

US officials have rejected the inclusion of Lebanon. In announcing the ceasefire, President Trump specified a "complete and total cessation of hostilities" between Washington and Tehran. He later clarified that Lebanon constituted a distinct conflict.

Vice President JD Vance, designated to lead US talks in Islamabad, told reporters in Budapest: "I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t." Vance added that Iran would be making a poor decision to derail negotiations over Lebanon, describing it as unrelated and not part of US statements on the ceasefire.

Israel aligns with the US position. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the ceasefire "does not bind Israel in Lebanon," emphasizing continued operations against Hezbollah threats.

In response to the broader conflict, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, disrupting oil and trade flows.

Iran's Stake in Lebanon's Inclusion

Vance's remarks frame Lebanon as peripheral to Iran, but Hezbollah represents Tehran's primary regional proxy within the "axis of resistance," a network of Iran-aligned groups opposing Israel, including Yemen's Houthis and Iraqi militias.

Hezbollah joined the current fighting after Khamenei's death, launching rockets that Israel says targeted civilians. Among US demands for ending the war is that Iran cease support for such proxies.

Excluding Lebanon from the ceasefire could alter Iran's regional strategy. Analysts note that unchecked Israeli operations might weaken Hezbollah, reducing Iran's leverage and credibility among allies, especially since Hezbollah intervened on Iran's behalf.

Andreas Krieg, a professor at King’s College London, described Lebanon as a potential vulnerability for the ceasefire. He told Al Jazeera: "[It] might force Iran to retaliate against Israel to keep the balance of deterrence and show that Iran is a reliable security partner for Hezbollah. Israel will try to probe Iran where it can to test its resolve."

Israeli officials, meanwhile, argue that operations are necessary to neutralize Hezbollah's rocket capabilities, which have displaced over 60,000 Israelis in the north since March 2, per Israeli government data.

Responses from Other Nations and Organizations

Global reactions have varied, with several nations urging de-escalation and clarity on the ceasefire's scope.

Qatar labeled the strikes a serious escalation and called for international action. Egypt described them as showing intent to hinder regional de-escalation efforts. Turkiye highlighted the worsening humanitarian conditions in Lebanon and urged civilian protections.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on X that Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions disregarded international law. France condemned the strikes while advocating Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that Lebanon should be part of the truce, calling Israel's actions "completely wrong," a position she plans to restate in a Thursday speech.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that ongoing military activity in Lebanon presents a significant risk to the US-Iran ceasefire.

More than 1.2 million people have been displaced in Lebanon since Israeli operations began there, according to UN estimates. The conflict has also prompted evacuations on the Israeli side.

These developments underscore the challenges in aligning interpretations among the US, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and regional actors as talks approach.

*(Word count: 1342)*