At least nine people were killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday as Israeli air strikes and Hezbollah rocket attacks threatened to undermine a fragile ceasefire arrangement aimed at reducing hostilities between the two sides.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the fatalities included two paramedics whose ambulance was struck in the Chehour area of southern Lebanon. Additional casualties were reported in al-Housh, near the coastal city of Tyre, where an Israeli strike killed four Syrian nationals and two Palestinians. Another attack targeted a vehicle south of Beirut, marking one of the closest strikes to the Lebanese capital since a partial ceasefire was announced earlier this week.
The latest violence came despite a US-backed agreement reached on Monday under which Israel would refrain from launching major attacks on Beirut while Hezbollah would halt cross-border strikes against Israel. The arrangement was intended to ease tensions as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent a wider regional escalation.
Israeli and Lebanese officials met for a second consecutive day in Washington to discuss measures aimed at strengthening the agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that the talks would lead to a security framework for Lebanon that operates independently of Hezbollah’s influence.
The conflict intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel on 2 March following an Israeli strike that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with a large-scale air campaign across Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south, drawing the country deeper into the broader regional war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 3,500 people have been killed since the fighting began, while over one million residents have been displaced. Israel says 26 soldiers and four civilians have died during the conflict.
Lebanese officials strongly condemned Wednesday’s attack on the ambulance, accusing Israel of violating international humanitarian law, which grants protection to medical personnel and emergency services during armed conflicts. The ambulance belonged to the Risala Scouts Association, a group affiliated with the Amal movement, a political ally of Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least 128 healthcare workers and paramedics have been killed in attacks involving ambulances and medical facilities over the past three months. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the latest incident, although it has previously alleged that some emergency vehicles have been used for military purposes.
The Lebanese army also reported casualties among its personnel. One soldier was killed in a drone strike near Nabatieh, while two others were injured when their vehicle was targeted in a separate attack. Military officials accused Israel of repeatedly targeting Lebanese army personnel, vehicles and positions.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military said it intercepted a drone and two projectiles that crossed the border from Lebanon into northern Israel. Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for a rocket barrage aimed at a gathering of Israeli troops, saying the attack was carried out in response to what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire. The group also claimed to have launched drone attacks against Israeli forces operating in several areas of southern Lebanon.
The ceasefire itself remains fragile and open to differing interpretations. While the Lebanese government maintains that Hezbollah accepted the agreement, senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qamati insisted there was no formal ceasefire and argued that the arrangement merely protected Beirut’s southern suburbs from major Israeli attacks. He also rejected the legitimacy of ongoing negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington, saying Hezbollah does not recognize any decisions that emerge from those talks.
The continuing violence has left many Lebanese civilians frustrated and fearful. Thousands of displaced residents remain in temporary shelters along Beirut’s waterfront, struggling with limited access to basic services. Many are calling for a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire rather than localized agreements covering specific regions.
The diplomatic effort received renewed attention after US President Donald Trump acknowledged reports that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid further escalation in Lebanon. Trump said he had become increasingly concerned about Israel’s continued military operations and pressed Netanyahu to halt attacks on Beirut.
Netanyahu later confirmed that while disagreements occasionally arise between allies, Israel and the United States continue to work closely together. He emphasized that Israeli military operations would continue in southern Lebanon despite the decision to avoid a broader offensive against Beirut.
The situation remains closely tied to wider regional diplomacy involving Iran. Tehran has warned that any lasting ceasefire agreement in the region must include Lebanon, while US officials remain concerned that further escalation could jeopardize broader negotiations aimed at ending the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
