Israel Kills Three in Lebanon Strike, Testing Fragile Year-Old Ceasefire

An Israeli airstrike killed at least three people in southern Lebanon on Monday, according to the country's National News Agency, in the latest breach of a precarious year-old ceasefire with Hezbollah. The attack near the city of Sidon comes amid faltering diplomatic efforts to salvage the agreement, which has been consistently undermined by both sides.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that an Israeli drone struck a vehicle on Quneitra Road, killing the three individuals inside. In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed it had targeted Hezbollah members in the Sidon area but offered no further details. The incident follows another deadly Israeli attack on Sunday in southern Lebanon that killed one person and wounded two others, whom the Israeli army also claimed was a Hezbollah member.

The November 2024 ceasefire agreement, which is now fraying, was built on two core commitments. Hezbollah was to disarm in the area south of the Litani River, creating a buffer zone. In return, Israeli forces were required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025. Neither side has fully delivered.

While Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Saturday that his country was "close to completing" Hezbollah's disarmament south of the river, Hezbollah's leadership has been clear. The group's leader, Naim Qassem, has consistently stated that while it will end its military presence there, it will retain its weapons elsewhere to defend against Israeli attacks. Hezbollah officials have also conditioned their full compliance on a complete Israeli withdrawal.

For its part, Israel has only partially pulled back its troops and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts inside Lebanese territory. The near-daily attacks represent the most flagrant violation of the truce.

Despite the violence, a diplomatic track continues. A committee overseeing the ceasefire held closed-door talks in the southern town of Naqoura on Friday. Following the discussions, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that enabling the return of tens of thousands of displaced civilians was "an entry point for addressing all other details." The committee's next meeting is scheduled for January 7. In a separate diplomatic push, the U.S., France, and Saudi Arabia have agreed to organize an international conference in early 2026 to support Lebanon's official army, signaling a broader strategy to bolster state institutions.