UMVA has learned that Israel launched a series of strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday, despite agreeing to a ceasefire with the Lebanese government just hours earlier.
The sudden escalation came after Hezbollah, a militant group, rejected the ceasefire agreement, describing it as "false" and an "illusion." Fighting had continued from Thursday into Friday, with no end in sight.
Under the terms of the renewed ceasefire, Israel and Lebanon had agreed to create "pilot" security zones inside Lebanon, from which Hezbollah would be banned. The agreement was contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem vowed to resist the agreement, stating that it was "surrender and defeat" to require Hezbollah to stop firing and withdraw from the south while Israeli aggression continued. "We will fight the invaders until we expel them and stop their aggression," he said.
In a surprise move, US President Trump claimed that Hezbollah had not rejected the proposal, and that the group had even called to discuss a potential ceasefire. "I think you're gonna see things happen over there," he said, adding that it would be "really nice" if Lebanon could have some peace.
Despite Trump's comments, Israel went on to launch strikes in the south Lebanon city of Tyre, killing seven people. The Lebanese Army was working to implement the new deal with "pilot zones" to seize control from Hezbollah.
The violence came as negotiations between the US and Iran continued, with talks over a "largely negotiated" framework for a 60-day "memorandum of understanding" (MOU). Iran has made a deal with the US contingent on an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.
Sources close to the US administration revealed that President Trump had a heated call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over the Lebanon conflict. Trump reportedly expressed frustration with Netanyahu's continued aggression, at one point using strong language to tell him to "stop it."
The situation on the ground remained volatile, with Israel's military warning three villages north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon that it would be launching additional attacks. "Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, their facilities, or their weapons endangers their life!" they said.
