Lebanon's state media, NNA, reported on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, that the Israeli military continued to launch airstrikes on several areas in southern Lebanon, despite the recent announcement of a peace agreement aimed at ending the war in the Middle East. According to the NNA, Israeli warplanes carried out raids on Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the strategic outskirts of Kfar Tebnit, while also utilizing drones to strike the town of Ansariyeh.
The Israeli military continues bombings in southern Lebanon
Although overall violence has decreased significantly since the United States and Iran announced the peace deal, Israel’s relentless attacks on southern Lebanon have killed at least five people since the agreement was made public. This slight de-escalation prompted some Lebanese citizens to attempt to return and check on their homes and villages. However, the Lebanese National Army issued a public appeal urging citizens to suspend their return for now, citing that the "risk of violations and attacks by the Israeli side" remains critically high.
Background of the Conflict: Lebanon was dragged into this Middle Eastern war in early March after the Iran-backed Hezbollah group fired rockets into Israel. This was done in retaliation for the assassination of Iran's top leader in late February, an operation carried out jointly by the U.S. and Israel. In response, Israel launched a fierce aerial bombardment campaign and deployed ground troops into Lebanese territory.
Regarding this matter, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the resolution of this conflict would be incomplete unless Israeli troops withdraw from the territories they have occupied during this war. He added that any attack from this point forward would be considered a direct violation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear on Monday that his troops will remain in Lebanon "for as long as necessary." Meanwhile, Hezbollah has not yet issued any statement regarding retaliatory counter-attacks against Israel. The group's leader, Naim Qassem, is scheduled to deliver a televised address this Wednesday, following his expression of deep gratitude to Iran for its efforts to pressure Israel into an immediate and permanent halt of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the death toll from Israeli attacks since the outbreak of the war has risen to 3,826, as rescuers continue to pull more bodies from underneath the rubble.
