Israel continues strikes in Lebanon despite Trump's de-escalation announcement

US President Donald Trump announced a de-escalation agreement between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia on Monday, but both sides resumed attacks the following day. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least eight people, including a dentist and his two children. The announcement of a partial ceasefire failed to end the fighting that has been ongoing for three months.

Trump reportedly intervened directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent planned Israeli attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs. Under the intervention, Israel was supposed to refrain from attacking Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut, while Hezbollah would halt its attacks on Israeli territory. However, neither Israel nor Hezbollah publicly confirmed this agreement.

Despite the announced de-escalation, fighting continued on Tuesday. Israeli drone strikes hit targets in southern Lebanon, killing eight civilians according to Lebanese sources. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued firing rockets at northern Israel. The Israeli military reported intercepting several projectiles while others landed in uninhabited areas. In the fighting in southern Lebanon, one Israeli soldier was killed and seven others wounded.

The diplomatic intervention occurred against the backdrop of broader regional tensions with Iran. Reports suggested that Iran had warned that Israeli attacks on Beirut could jeopardize ongoing talks between the US and Tehran. Trump nevertheless stated that negotiations with Iran were proceeding at a rapid pace, although Iranian media reported that Tehran had suspended dialogue with mediators due to Israel's offensive in Lebanon.

Qatar played an important mediating role in the de-escalation efforts. Diplomatic sources from Doha confirmed that the US had informed Qatar that threatened Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs had been cancelled following the phone call between Trump and Netanyahu. Qatari officials had initiated contacts with the US since Sunday to seek a de-escalation of tensions in southern Lebanon.

For Netanyahu, Trump's public intervention brought considerable domestic political pressure. The Israeli prime minister faces criticism for appearing to bow to American pressure ahead of upcoming elections. Polls suggest Netanyahu could lose the elections. Reports indicated tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, with the US president allegedly calling the Israeli leader crazy and accusing him of jeopardizing peace talks with Iran.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing for three months and is part of broader regional confrontations that also involve Iran. Hezbollah said its attacks were carried out in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and due to repeated Israeli aggressions. The fighting has already claimed thousands of lives and destabilized the region.

Despite diplomatic efforts, the situation remains volatile. The fact that both sides have not publicly acknowledged the agreement announced by Trump raises questions about its durability. The continued attacks show that sustainable de-escalation has not yet been achieved. The international community is watching developments with concern, as further escalation could engulf the entire region.

The coming days will show whether diplomatic efforts bear fruit or whether the conflict continues to escalate. While Trump expressed hopes for lasting peace between Israel and Hezbollah, the ongoing fighting suggests that the path to a stable ceasefire is still long. The role of the US as mediator is being tested, as is the willingness of all conflict parties to make genuine compromises.

The disconnect between diplomatic announcements and ground realities highlights the complexity of the situation. Trump's intervention, while preventing an immediate escalation in Beirut, has not addressed the underlying issues driving the conflict. The involvement of regional powers like Iran and Qatar as mediators underscores the broader geopolitical dimensions of what began as a bilateral conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.