Israel continued its military operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday despite diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump to prevent a further escalation of the conflict. The latest developments highlighted the fragile nature of ceasefire efforts and underscored the difficulties facing negotiators attempting to contain a war that has now stretched into its third month.
The situation remained tense even after Trump personally intervened and reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to authorise attacks on Beirut. The US president's request was aimed at preventing a broader regional escalation and avoiding further destabilisation in Lebanon's capital, which has already experienced repeated episodes of violence during the conflict.
Following Trump's intervention, Lebanese officials announced that Israel would refrain from carrying out threatened strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area widely regarded as a stronghold of Hezbollah. In return, Hezbollah was expected to halt attacks directed at Israel.
Despite those assurances, the announcement did little to calm fears among ordinary Lebanese citizens or significantly reduce military activity elsewhere in the country. Many residents remained sceptical about the durability of any ceasefire arrangement, particularly given the continued fighting across southern Lebanon and the absence of a comprehensive agreement covering all areas of conflict.
The persistent presence of Israeli surveillance drones over Beirut further contributed to public anxiety. Residents reported hearing drones operating above the city throughout Tuesday, reinforcing concerns that military operations could expand again at short notice.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government sought to advance diplomatic efforts by participating in talks with Israeli representatives in Washington. The discussions, scheduled for Tuesday, form part of a broader series of face-to-face meetings aimed at reducing hostilities and creating conditions for a more lasting ceasefire.
The negotiations are particularly significant because they have taken place despite objections from Hezbollah, which has often expressed reservations about direct or indirect engagement with Israel. Lebanese officials hope the discussions can produce practical measures that move beyond temporary pauses in fighting and establish a more sustainable framework for peace.
Adding another dimension to the diplomatic process, Iran has reportedly insisted that a ceasefire in Lebanon must form part of any broader agreement with the United States concerning regional tensions. Tehran has repeatedly linked developments in Lebanon to wider negotiations involving the ongoing conflict that began after US and Israeli military actions against Iran earlier in the year.
While diplomacy continued, military operations on the ground showed few signs of slowing. In southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments targeted multiple towns and villages. The Israeli military also issued evacuation warnings to residents of the city of Nabatiyeh, advising civilians to leave the area before planned strikes.
Hezbollah announced that it had conducted two military operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon during the early hours of Tuesday. However, the group did not report any cross-border rocket attacks into Israeli territory during that period.
The Israeli military later stated that it had intercepted two projectiles launched from Lebanon overnight. Although the scale of those attacks appeared limited compared to previous exchanges, the incidents demonstrated that hostilities remained ongoing despite diplomatic efforts.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated Israel's determination to continue responding forcefully to any attacks on its territory. He warned that if northern Israeli communities continued to come under attack, Israel would expand its military response and target Beirut's southern suburbs.
According to statements released by his office, Katz argued that the effectiveness of Israel's strategy would be measured by whether attacks on Israeli communities ceased. He suggested that continued hostilities would result in further strikes against Hezbollah-linked areas in Beirut.
The warnings contributed to growing fears among Lebanese civilians already displaced by the conflict. One resident, Faten Al Chehime, explained that she had fled her home in Beirut's southern suburbs after hearing renewed warnings of possible Israeli attacks. Her experience reflected the uncertainty faced by many families who have repeatedly been forced to leave and return to their homes throughout the conflict.
Chehime said she had only recently returned after a previous displacement, only to find herself once again preparing to seek safety elsewhere. Similar stories have become increasingly common as residents struggle to cope with the repeated cycles of evacuation and return.
The humanitarian impact of the war has been substantial. According to available estimates, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon since the conflict began. The large-scale movement of civilians has placed significant pressure on local communities, aid organisations, and government resources.
The war itself began when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in support of Iran following the broader regional confrontation that emerged in early March. Since then, both sides have exchanged strikes across multiple fronts, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.
During the early stages of the conflict, Israel carried out extensive attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs, commonly known as Dahiyeh. However, since Trump announced a ceasefire initiative in April, Israeli strikes in that area have been relatively limited, with only a small number of reported attacks.
Tensions escalated again on Monday when Netanyahu authorised new operations targeting Dahiyeh. The decision prompted a strong reaction from Iran, whose state media reported that Tehran had suspended indirect negotiations with Washington because of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
At the same time, Iran's military reportedly warned residents of northern Israel to leave areas that could become targets if Israeli forces proceeded with strikes against Beirut. These warnings heightened concerns that the conflict could spread further and involve additional regional actors.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also issued a strong warning, stating that continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon could trigger a more direct confrontation. According to statements shared publicly, Qalibaf indicated that if Israeli actions persisted, Iran might move beyond diplomacy and adopt a more confrontational approach.
Amid the growing tensions, a series of diplomatic contacts appeared to help prevent an immediate escalation. Trump stated that he had personally urged Netanyahu not to launch a major attack on Beirut and claimed that Hezbollah had conveyed through intermediaries that it would refrain from attacking Israel.
The claim attracted attention because the United States has long designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation and has never maintained formal communication with the group. Any messages exchanged would therefore have occurred indirectly through third parties rather than through direct contact.
As diplomacy continued, Lebanese officials outlined their objectives for the Washington talks. A senior government official explained that negotiators hoped to identify practical mechanisms for reinforcing and expanding the ceasefire.
One proposal under discussion involves the creation of phased implementation measures, including designated "pilot zones" where hostilities would cease, Israeli forces would withdraw, and Lebanese troops would deploy. Officials hope that success in limited areas could eventually pave the way for a nationwide ceasefire.
According to Lebanese representatives, such an approach could gradually build trust and reduce violence before being expanded to other regions of the country.
The official noted that although Hezbollah had not formally endorsed the proposed partial ceasefire arrangements, the group had nevertheless refrained from launching attacks against northern Israel during the latest phase of negotiations.
A central issue in the discussions remains the future of Hezbollah's military capabilities. Israel has consistently demanded that Hezbollah be disarmed, a position that is also supported by Lebanon's government under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Lebanese authorities have indicated that they favour a peaceful and gradual process rather than a military confrontation.
For its part, Hezbollah has remained cautious about publicly embracing any partial ceasefire arrangement. Youssef al-Zein, who heads the group's press office, stated that Hezbollah would not issue a definitive public position unless a formal agreement guaranteeing a comprehensive halt to Israeli military operations across all Lebanese territory was reached.
He pointed to previous ceasefire arrangements that failed to prevent continued Israeli strikes, arguing that the group would judge any new proposal based on actions rather than declarations alone.
Al-Zein said Hezbollah would continue monitoring both military developments and diplomatic efforts before deciding on its next steps.
The human cost of the conflict continues to rise. According to Lebanon's health ministry, Israeli military operations have killed more than 3,400 people in Lebanon since March 2. Israeli authorities, meanwhile, report that Hezbollah attacks have resulted in the deaths of 26 soldiers and four civilians since the conflict began.
As fighting persists and negotiations continue, the future of the ceasefire remains uncertain. Although diplomatic efforts have prevented a major escalation in Beirut for now, significant disagreements remain unresolved, leaving the region on edge and millions of civilians hoping for a lasting end to the violence.
