Israel's Continued Strikes Raise Lebanese Death Toll Amid Ceasefire Claims

Israeli air raids and ground operations persisted in southern Lebanon on 26 June, violating the cease‑fire that began on 2 March. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported a cumulative total of 4,243 dead and 12,186 injured since the start of the campaign, including new casualties from recent bombings and a suspicious explosive that killed one civilian and wounded another.

The Israeli Defense Forces’ radio announced that several brigades were being pulled back from the border for “readiness and training,” while still maintaining positions inside Lebanese territory and continuing attacks on targets it says belong to Hezbollah. The statements came as U.S. and Iranian officials negotiated a 14‑point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities, though Israeli leaders insisted they would not withdraw from the south.

The conflict has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon, and the fighting has expanded up to 10 km inside Lebanese lands – the deepest advance since Israel’s 2000 withdrawal. Israeli officials described the area as a “safe zone,” despite international pressure to halt further escalation.