May 2, 2026, 3:02 p.mMay 2, 2026, 3:02 p.m
A good three weeks after a ceasefire was agreed in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, fighting is clearly increasing again. According to Lebanese sources, five people were killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli drone attacked a car traveling near the town of Nabatieh, the Lebanese news agency NNA reported. Two inmates were killed. Three more people were killed in an attack on a house in Iklim al-Tuffah early this morning. The place is considered a stronghold of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, which is hostile to Israel.
Smoke rises after an Israeli attack near Nabatieh.Image: www.imago-images.de
Twelve people were killed in attacks in southern Lebanon on Friday. The US is committed to new direct talks at the highest level between Israel and Lebanon with the aim of a permanent settlement of hostilities.
Israel’s military: around 50 attacks within 24 hours
The Israeli army said in a post on Platform X that there had been around 50 attacks in southern Lebanon within 24 hours. The military continues to destroy “terror infrastructure” in the neighboring country to the north and kill terrorists there, the post said.
A destroyed apartment after an attack on Thursday in Lebanon.Image: keystone
These include buildings that members of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia used to attack soldiers. In southern Lebanon, Israeli soldiers were attacked by Hezbollah with several rockets. There are also repeated drone attacks by Hezbollah on places in northern Israel.
Fragile ceasefire and recurring escalation
Although there is officially a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, mutual attacks continue to occur daily. Since the beginning of March, the conflict had worsened significantly again as a result of regional escalation after rockets were fired from Lebanon. Israel responded with air strikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, accompanied by heavy fighting in the border area.
According to Lebanese figures, more than 2,600 people have been killed and more than a million displaced since the beginning of March. Lebanon itself is not officially a party to the conflict.
Millions have been displaced since the beginning of March.Image: keystone
USA is pushing for new direct talks
In view of the fragile ceasefire, which officially lasts until mid-May, the USA is pushing for direct talks between Israel and Lebanon at the highest level. The ceasefire was announced around three weeks ago after talks between US President Donald Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
The US Embassy in Beirut called for a meeting between Aoun and Netanyahu to seek guarantees of sovereignty, secure borders, humanitarian aid and reconstruction – backed by the US. According to Lebanese media, Aoun is currently rejecting such a meeting during the ongoing fighting and is only promising it after successful negotiations.
According to the presidential office, Aoun’s meeting with US Ambassador Michel Issa on Friday was about stabilizing the ceasefire and possible further discussions in Washington on border security. In the first direct talks there, Israel demanded the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, while Lebanon demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal. The disarmament of Hezbollah, which was envisaged under the 2024 agreement, has not yet been implemented. (sda/dpa)