Why is Israel escalating attacks on southern Lebanon despite ceasefire agreement?

Lebanese leaders condemned Israel's bombing of the country's south that killed at least 11 people, the deadliest attack since the new US-brokered ceasefire in June.

Lebanon and Israel reached two ceasefire agreements on June 4 and June 27, mediated by the Trump administration. The June 4 deal stipulated a "complete cessation" of Hezbollah rocket launches and the relocation of the group's fighters. The June 27 agreement did not directly require Israel to withdraw, instead linking withdrawal to the process of Hezbollah's disarmament.

These agreements came after an April ceasefire collapsed. Both truces, which Hezbollah opposed, failed to prevent the Israeli military from expanding its control over Lebanese territory and carrying out deadly attacks.

Israel's escalation comes as the Lebanese government plans to hold a new round of negotiations with Israel next month.

Key developments

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported at least 11 people, including children, were killed on Saturday in Israeli airstrikes on the Nabatieh district in the south. The NNA news agency reported 7 people killed and 3 wounded when Israeli aircraft struck a house on the outskirts of Ansar village, destroying the building. Four others died in an attack on the village of Deir al-Zahrani.

Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem, reporting from Nabatieh, said the Israeli attack came after midnight, killing members of one family and adding to residents' fears in the area.

The Israeli military also carried out an airstrike on the slopes of Ali al-Taher mountain, near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle. Explosions were also reported in the towns of Bint Jbeil and Taybeh, while Israeli drones targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Mansouri.

Israel's response

Israel's military said the attacks were in response to what it called Hezbollah actions against Israeli soldiers on the Ali al-Taher slopes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declared it had struck "Hezbollah terror headquarters" and asserted it found Hezbollah "deliberately placing civilians in that military zone."

Israel also claimed to have eliminated senior Hezbollah commander Abu Hassan Alaa, of the "Badder unit," and commander Ali Samir al-Haj Hassan. Hezbollah has not commented on these claims.

Analysts suggest Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to escalate attacks to "show determination not to be deterred" in occupying southern Lebanon and "bombing" Hezbollah as well as Lebanese civilians.

Lebanon's reaction

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Israel's continued attacks, calling them violations of the ceasefire and "a clear message to the negotiation process." Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged Israel to "stop" its escalation, while Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri described the incident as a "massacre" and a continuation of the "war of annihilation" in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah said the escalation reflects Netanyahu's desire "to push the war forward to consolidate his domestic political position, serve his electoral goals, and appease the far right." Israel's general election is scheduled for October 27.

Negotiation process

Israel and Hezbollah have been in conflict since March 2. Previously, Hezbollah adhered to the November 2024 ceasefire despite Israel's frequent violations.

The US-mediated framework deal in June called for Israel to withdraw from large areas of southern Lebanon after Hezbollah disarmed and the Lebanese army deployed. However, this has not happened. The seventh round of talks between the two sides took place in early August.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu said Saturday's attacks were meant "to create momentum" for negotiations, not the opposite. Meanwhile, a US State Department official blamed Hezbollah for Israel's presence in Lebanese territory, calling the group the main obstacle to Lebanon's economic recovery.

Professor Ziad Abu Rish argued that the ceasefire is only "nominal" and actually lasted only from June 19 to 23, when Iran pushed to end Israeli attacks as part of a memorandum with the US.