A destroyed street in the Lebanese city of Tyre.Image: Keystone
June 5, 2026, 8:19 amJune 5, 2026, 8:19 am
Despite the renewed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the bloody conflict between the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and Israel continues. A soldier was killed in a renewed attack by the pro-Iranian militia on troops stationed in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army announced in the evening.
Hezbollah had recently rejected the ceasefire conditions agreed between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on Thursday night. The Lebanese government is not a party to the war and has limited influence over Hezbollah. The militia was not involved in the talks.
After Hezbollah’s renewed attack, the Israeli army said it bombed the Shiite militia’s infrastructure. That night, Hezbollah announced another rocket attack on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. The information could not be independently verified. There was initially no communication from the Israeli military.
Hezbollah rejects ceasefire conditions
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassim had previously rejected the agreement between the Lebanese government and Israel. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that Hezbollah had spoken to him and had not rejected it. “They said, ‘How about stopping?'” Trump said, appearing to suggest that he believes there will be progress in ending the fighting. “It would be really nice if Lebanon could have some peace,” he said.
However, Hezbollah leader Kassim particularly rejected calls for his Iran-backed Shiite organization to disarm. An interpretation of the ceasefire that would require Hezbollah to stop its attacks while Israeli attacks continued would amount to a “surrender,” a statement read on Lebanese television said. “The announced agreement is a roadmap to destroy part of the Lebanese people and subjugate the rest.”
Hezbolla leader Naim Kassim rejects the ceasefire.Image: EPA
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday, according to the Times of Israel, that its own military would continue operations in the northern neighboring country for the time being.
Agreement calls for disarmament and withdrawal of Hezbollah
According to the agreement, among other things, the militia will stop its attacks on Israel and withdraw from areas south of the Litani River – some of which are up to 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border. So-called security zones are to be set up in southern Lebanon, in which only the regular Lebanese armed forces exercise control. However, it is unclear how exactly this should be achieved.
The conflict in Lebanon is also a central point of contention in the stalled negotiations to end the war between the United States and Iran. Tehran, which arms and finances Hezbollah, views the conflict in Lebanon as a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire. (nil/sda/dpa)