Israel strikes Lebanon as 600,000 displaced Lebanese return home

The Israeli army said it hit about ten Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon on Friday, targeting infrastructure and a weapons‑transfer truck. The attacks were described as a response to assaults on Israeli soldiers inside the "security zone" that Israel occupies up to ten kilometres inside Lebanese territory.

The strikes continue despite a peace framework signed on 26 June in Washington, which conditions an Israeli withdrawal on Hezbollah’s disarmament – a demand the group rejects. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli forces will remain until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 600,000 displaced Lebanese – 646,107 people precisely – have returned to their homes since the cease‑fire took effect on 21 June, while roughly 500,000 remain displaced. The war has caused around 4,300 Lebanese deaths and 38 Israeli soldiers plus one civilian contractor killed.