Lebanon may pose a stumbling block in fragile US-Iran ceasefire

Israel launched a barrage of attacks without warning in Lebanon on Wednesday, striking more than 100 sites in 10 minutes as a fragile ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran hangs in the balance.

The attacks were of the largest scale in Lebanon since Israel started its latest offensive there more than a month ago. It stands to expose a major stumbling block in the hours after fragile negotiations were agreed upon to pause fighting between the U.S. and Iran.

Disagreements have emerged over whether ending the fighting in Lebanon should be part of that two-week ceasefire.

In its 10-point peace plan, Iran included an end to Israel’s operation. In announcing the deal, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran included Lebanon.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently dismissed that portion of the proposal, with his office issuing a statement on X that said while Netanyahu backed President Trump’s efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a threat, the two-week ceasefire “does not include Lebanon.”

Trump appeared to side with Netanyahu on Wednesday. When asked by “PBS News Hour” if he had seen the increased fighting in Lebanon, the president responded, “Yeah, they were not included in the deal.” 

“Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of too. It’s all right,” Trump said, referring to the Iran-backed militant group when PBS asked why Lebanon was not included and whether it should have been.

When asked if Israel should continue its barrage of attacks in Lebanon, Trump said: “It’s part of the deal — everyone knows that. It’s a separate skirmish.”

Iran has subsequently closed the Strait of Hormuz, the Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday, citing Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. 

Israel’s military said it carried out its largest attack against Hezbollah infrastructures, bombing over 100 sites in 10 minutes, and added most of the targeted sites were located “within the heart of the civilian population.” A statement said targets included “Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays and command-and-control centers.”

The Associated Press reported the attacks came without warning, with Israel targeting areas in the south and east of the country as well as its densely populated capital, Beirut. Social media videos from local journalists showed buildings flattened, including ones in populous residential areas.

Israel initially launched its offensive in Lebanon simultaneously with its attacks alongside the U.S. in Iran.

While not naming Lebanon specifically, Sharif in a statement on X in the aftermath of the Israeli operation, urged all parties to “exercise restraint.”

“Violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process. I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” he wrote, while tagging U.S. and Iranian officials.

Talks between U.S. and Iranian officials are set to take place in Islamabad on Friday, with Pakistan emerging as a key mediator.

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