Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire on Tuesday while Lebanese and Israeli diplomats convened in Washington for direct negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Hezbollah remains the only obstacle to a peace agreement. The clashes followed President Donald Trump's announcement on Monday that he had brokered a deal, initially covering Israeli attacks on Beirut and Hezbollah attacks on Israeli territory, with plans to expand later.
Hezbollah Rejects Partial Ceasefire
Neither side has publicly accepted Trump's proposal. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati told AFP that the group "will not accept a partial ceasefire," warning that any aggression against the suburbs would provoke a deeper response. Lebanon's National News Agency reported Israeli strikes on about 30 locations in the south, some deadly. Hezbollah claimed it attacked Israeli troops in southern Lebanese lands they occupy but did not target Israel proper. The Israeli military intercepted two projectiles from Lebanon, with no injuries reported.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
The fighting occurred as Israeli and Lebanese diplomats held a fourth round of direct talks in Washington. Rubio told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "Israel and Lebanon can do a peace deal tomorrow," adding that "Israel has no territorial claims in Lebanon. Hezbollah is the impediment." Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the talks, opposed by Hezbollah, as "the least costly choice for Lebanon."
Escalation and US Pressure
Recent days have seen a dramatic escalation, with Israeli troops conducting their deepest ground offensive into Lebanon in two decades. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, citing Hezbollah's violations of a ceasefire in place since April 17. According to Axios, Trump pressured Netanyahu to back down, calling him "f***ing crazy" and accusing him of jeopardizing peace talks with Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel had established "a new equation" to hit Beirut suburbs if Hezbollah continued firing.
Impact on Civilians
In the southern suburbs, many shops were closed, and a military drone flew overhead. Resident Layla Shehab, 35, returned because "the situation has calmed down a bit." Near Sidon, rescuers recovered six bodies from one family after an Israeli strike. In Tyre, the Jabal Amel hospital resumed operations after being damaged by an attack that wounded 39 staff. The Israeli military alleged Hezbollah operatives were in Tyre's Christian quarter, warning of evacuation orders. Displaced residents filled shelters, with some sleeping in cars or tents. Lebanon's health ministry reported at least 3,468 deaths since March 2, while Israel reported 26 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed.
