Israel Lebanon Air Strikes 2026: Fragile Truce Shaken by New Offensives

A handshake in the halls of power hasn't stopped the fire in the skies. Despite a 2024 US-brokered ceasefire, Israel launched fresh air strikes on Hezbollah and Hamas targets in Lebanon on January 5, 2026.

Israel Lebanon Air Strikes 2026: Military Escalation Amid Ceasefire

The Israeli military issued urgent evacuation orders for four villages across eastern and southern Lebanon, including Hammara and Kfar Hatta. According to AFP reports, families were forced to flee their homes as drones circled overhead. This escalation follows a deadly strike on Sunday in Ayn al-Mizrab, which killed two people approximately 10km from the border.

Since the ceasefire took effect in late 2024, the UN has documented at least 127 civilian deaths in Lebanon. While the truce was meant to end over a year of fighting, Israel continues to occupy five areas in the country and frequently conducts bombardment, citing military necessity.

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Pressure Mounts After Trump-Netanyahu Meeting

The timing of these attacks isn't coincidental. Analysts suggest that a recent meeting between US President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have provided Israel with a "green light" to intensify operations. Security analyst Ali Rizk told Al Jazeera that the naming of Hamas as a target further pressures Lebanon to act against all anti-Israel groups on its soil.

Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has labeled disarmament efforts south of the Litani River—30km from the border—as "far from sufficient." The Lebanese government is scheduled to meet this Tuesday to review the army's progress in disarming Hezbollah, an organization that remains resilient despite significant leadership losses last year.