Israel continued air strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon on Thursday despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement [1].
These actions threaten the stability of a fragile diplomatic effort to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The ongoing violence suggests that the current agreement may not be sufficient to prevent further escalation in the region.
Israeli jets targeted several towns in southern Lebanon, including the village of Touline [2]. Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that two people died in the Touline strike [3]. Additional military operations were reported in eastern Lebanon, specifically in Riyak within the Bekaa Valley [4].
Defense Minister Israel Katz said, "We will continue to strike Lebanon for the time being and will not withdraw from the south" [1].
Israel said that its operations are targeting Hezbollah military sites [5]. The ceasefire is conditional on Hezbollah halting its own attacks; however, Hezbollah is not a direct party to the negotiations [1], [6]. Israeli officials said the military will continue operations until a demilitarized zone is established [1], [6].
This volatility follows a ceasefire extension that lasted 45 days [7]. Despite the extension, near-daily exchanges have persisted, with Israeli military spokespeople noting an escalation in strikes this Thursday [2].
Reports of strikes in eastern Lebanon were previously documented on Feb. 21, 2026 [8], indicating a pattern of activity across different sectors of the country. Israel continues to maintain its presence in the south while executing targeted air campaigns [1].
“"We will continue to strike Lebanon for the time being and will not withdraw from the south."”
The continued Israeli strikes highlight a critical gap in the ceasefire's architecture: the absence of Hezbollah as a direct signatory. Because the agreement relies on conditions that Israel believes have not been met—specifically the creation of a demilitarized zone—the 'ceasefire' functions more as a conditional pause than a permanent peace, leaving the region vulnerable to sudden escalations.
