Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

On Friday,  April 24, 2026, the Israeli army launched a series of raids and artillery shelling on areas in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire in effect, claiming that the attacks came in response to the firing of shells by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese News Agency reported that the Israeli army carried out two blow-up operations on houses in the city of Bint Jbeil and the town of Hanin, in addition to airstrikes targeting the outskirts of the town of Majdal Zone and the district of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

The agency reported that  Israeli warplanes raided the Basil Heights in the Jezzine district last night, adding that  an airstrike destroyed a house in the town of Tulin at dawn  in the Marjayoun district, followed by artillery shelling that hit the town, while the warplanes launched a raid on the town of Khirbet Salem.

Israel acknowledges its raids on southern Lebanon

For its part, the Israeli army announced an attack on buildings in southern Lebanon, claiming they belonged to Hezbollah, and said in a statement: "Our forces attacked military buildings in the areas of Khirbet Salam and Tulin in southern Lebanon, which were used by Hezbollah to further plans against the Israeli army."

He claimed that the attacks were "in response to the firing of shells by Hezbollah towards the Shtula area yesterday evening (Thursday)".

The Israeli army continues its attacks, including the demolition of buildings and homes in southern Lebanon, despite the fact that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect last week.

Trump talks about meeting between Netanyahu and Lebanese president soon

US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel for an additional three weeks, after it was scheduled to end on Sunday, stressing that Washington sees the next stage as a real opportunity to advance a negotiation path between the two sides.

Trump's announcement came in a post on the "Truth Social" platform, and in a press conference he held at the White House after the end of the second round of the preparatory meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations.

Trump said he and Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassadors to Tel Aviv and Beirut participated in a meeting with high-level representatives from both sides inside the Oval Office, describing the talks as "excellent" and that it was a "great honor" to participate in them.

The US president expressed his aspiration to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun "in the near future", stressing that his country will work with Lebanon to "help it protect itself from Hezbollah" and said: "We announce the extension of the ceasefire for three weeks."

During the same conference, he said there was a "great chance" of reaching a peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel this year, calling on Iran to stop funding Hezbollah, stressing that "Israel will defend itself if it comes under fire, but it has to do so with caution."

Trump announces intention to repeal Lebanese law

US President Donald Trump said that he will end the Lebanese law that criminalizes dealing with the occupying power, whether directly or indirectly, and quickly.

Interestingly, Trump was basically unaware of the existence of such a law, and he learned about it by asking a journalist, to announce before inquiring about its details or consulting about it, that he would work to repeal it.

Trump's statement, according to Lebanese observers, is a blatant interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, stressing that this matter is within the competence and powers of the Lebanese state, the House of Representatives, and its mother, and no party has the right to decide the fate of this law except the Lebanese themselves.

According to a law issued by the Lebanese parliament in 1955, any communication with the occupying power at various levels, whether personal, commercial or financial, prohibits any communication with the occupation, and even exchanging electronic messages with the occupation may expose a person in Lebanon to accountability.

Lebanese are prohibited from going to Israel under any name and are required to obtain prior approval from the Lebanese authorities, where they can be prosecuted legally before military courts and face a penalty of up to three years in prison and up to ten years of hard labor.