Israeli strikes kill at least 20 in Lebanon hours after ceasefire

Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 20 people, sparking tensions after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, with both sides blaming each other for the escalation of violence.

​Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 20 people on Saturday, Lebanon's state news agency said, one day after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, underscoring the fragility of a truce aimed at halting months of escalating violence.

Israel said the strikes were a response to projectiles fired overnight by the Iran-backed ‌group. An Israeli military official said Hezbollah launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, prompting attacks on what the official described as "Hezbollah targets". Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes and drones had struck multiple locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

Hezbollah accused Israel of committing hundreds of ceasefire violations, and warned that continued attacks "will not pass without a response". It said responsibility for the escalation lay with ‌Israel, and urged the U.S. to put pressure on Israel to implement agreements and halt its attacks.

ISRAELI MILITARY OCCUPYING PARTS OF SOUTHERN LEBANON Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that the military had been instructed ‌by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz to hold fire in Lebanon, but would not withdraw from areas it had captured.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli government. The Israeli military, which occupies parts of southern Lebanon, said Hezbollah's attacks constituted repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.

It said it remained committed to the truce in line with political directives, and would respond decisively to any attacks on Israeli civilians or troops. RENEWED VIOLENCE

Hezbollah said it also remained committed to the ceasefire but would ⁠respond to ​any attempt by Israel to "seize territory or expand its occupation". The ⁠group said Israeli forces had attempted overnight to infiltrate the Ali al-Taher hill area in southern Lebanon. Its fighters engaged the troops, it said, after which Israel carried out air strikes both inside and outside its declared operational zone.

A senior Hezbollah official ⁠said the group would not allow Israel "freedom of movement" in occupied Lebanese territory, adding that armed resistance remained legitimate as long as Israeli forces stayed in Lebanon. The renewed violence casts doubt on the durability of both the ceasefire and ​a broader U.S.-Iran understanding announced this week that hinges in part on ending hostilities in Lebanon.

DEADLY STRIKES One of the deadliest Israeli strikes hit a three-storey residential building in the southern ⁠town of Barish in the Tyre district, killing a father, mother and their two children, a local official said.

The Lebanese army said another Israeli strike killed a soldier on the Kfarrumman-Nabatieh road. Israel's Arabic-language military spokesperson said calm could be achieved if Hezbollah ceased what ⁠she ​described as hostile activity and violations of existing agreements.

She said Israel's presence in a security zone was intended to remove threats and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure rather than harm civilians. "All night we heard explosions. We got kind of excited by those statements about a ceasefire, but everything is continuing as usual," said Ofri Valfer, a resident of northern Israel.

"You can hear very loud blasts here, and life goes ⁠on alongside that. Hopefully better days will come." LEBANON SAYS MORE THAN 4,000 KILLED SINCE MARCH 2

Lebanon's health ministry says 4,057 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, including medics, ⁠women and children, though it does not specify how ⁠many of the dead were combatants. Israeli authorities say at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in fighting with Hezbollah.

The U.S.-Iran understanding announced this week calls for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations by the parties and their allies across several fronts, including Lebanon. Israel, which was not part ‌of those negotiations, has opposed provisions ‌it says could constrain its campaign in Lebanon.