Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire on Tuesday, just hours after President Donald Trump announced the two sides had agreed to halt hostilities. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had turned back troops following a request not to raid Beirut, and that Hezbollah had also agreed to cease attacks through intermediaries.
But on Tuesday, the warring parties appeared to contradict that claim. Israel conducted strikes on southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah fired into northern Israel. Netanyahu signaled operations could continue, warning of strikes on Beirut if attacks on Israeli towns persisted. Lebanon’s authorities said Hezbollah had agreed to a US-backed proposal for a “mutual cessation of attacks,” under which Israel would stop bombing Beirut’s southern suburbs in exchange for a halt to cross-border fire.
The fresh violence follows a sharp escalation, including Israel’s deepest incursion into Lebanon in two decades and heavy bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds. Israel and Lebanon are scheduled for talks in Washington this week. The hostilities also threaten the emerging Iran war ceasefire, as Tehran wants any agreement to include Lebanon.