Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon despite Trump's ceasefire announcement

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least eight people, including children, on Tuesday, just one day after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. The continued attacks raise questions about the effectiveness of the reported agreement and have led to diplomatic tensions between Washington and Jerusalem.

According to reports from multiple media outlets, Trump had a heated phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing anger over Israel's military escalation in Lebanon. Sources suggest Trump sharply criticized Netanyahu during the conversation and urged him to halt planned attacks on Beirut to prevent further escalation.

The Israeli strikes on Tuesday targeted multiple towns and villages across southern Lebanon. Particularly affected were the city of Nabatieh and the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, as well as the villages of Sultaniyeh and Bir al-Salasil in the Bint Jbeil district. In Marwaniyeh in the Sidon district, six bodies were recovered from the rubble of a residential building, including two children and a woman. Israeli drones also conducted three strikes on the town of Tallet Tol in the Nabatieh district.

Netanyahu faces sharp domestic criticism over these developments. Political rivals accuse him of allowing the United States to dictate Israeli military policy. The criticism focuses on Israel making its strategic decisions dependent on American directives, which is interpreted as weakening national sovereignty.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who leads the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement, offered to guarantee Hezbollah's adherence to a comprehensive ceasefire if such an agreement is reached. Berri has long served as a key intermediary between the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Washington, which designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

On the international level, several UN Security Council members, including France, Britain, China, and Russia, called for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The United States, however, placed responsibility for de-escalation on Hezbollah and Iran. These differing positions highlight the complex diplomatic situation in the region.

The ongoing fighting has already claimed thousands of lives and forced over a million people to flee their homes. The humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon continues to deteriorate as rescue teams attempt to recover survivors from the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The situation raises fundamental questions about the enforceability of ceasefire agreements in the region. Both Israel and Hezbollah have apparently violated the reported agreement, underscoring the challenges in ending hostilities. The tensions between Trump and Netanyahu could impact future US Middle East policy and strain the traditionally close relationship between the two countries.

The continued military operations despite diplomatic announcements reflect the complex dynamics between military strategy and political commitments in the region. The effectiveness of international mediation efforts remains uncertain as both sides continue to engage in military actions that contradict stated ceasefire intentions.