BEIRUT — Hezbollah rejected a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government on Thursday as Israeli strikes continued in southern Lebanon.
The Iran-backed group, which was not a party to the negotiations, said the proposal failed to meet its demands for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Israeli forces kept up operations in the south, where officials reported fresh strikes.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem described the deal in a statement as “a roadmap for the annihilation of a section of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest,” according to reports from multiple outlets citing his televised remarks. He demanded a comprehensive ceasefire and full Israeli pullout.
The agreement, announced after talks in Washington mediated by the United States, was contingent on Hezbollah halting attacks and withdrawing fighters from parts of southern Lebanon, with Lebanese forces taking greater control in designated “pilot zones.” Lebanon’s government had indicated it would implement the plan, but Hezbollah’s rejection cast immediate doubt on its viability.
Israeli officials, including the defense minister, stated that operations would continue and that troops would not withdraw from the south for now. Strikes were reported in the hours following the announcement, with Lebanese sources citing casualties from the latest attacks.
The developments come amid a fragile period in the broader regional conflict involving Iran. Previous temporary ceasefires and extensions have been in place since earlier in 2026, but violations and disagreements over terms have persisted.
Details on the exact number of casualties from Thursday’s strikes remained unclear, with reports varying by source. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, separately noted an incident involving its forces earlier in the area.
Hezbollah has long positioned itself as a resistance force against Israeli presence in Lebanon, while Israel has cited security threats from the group’s rocket attacks and cross-border activities as justification for its operations. Both sides have traded accusations over responsibility for ongoing violence.
As of late Thursday, no new talks were immediately scheduled to resolve the impasse, and fighting appeared to continue at a low level in southern Lebanon. Lebanese and Israeli authorities provided limited immediate comment beyond their initial positions on the rejected proposal.
The situation remains fluid, with the U.S. continuing efforts to stabilize the border area as part of wider regional diplomacy.
