Hezbollah Rejects 30km Ceasefire Pullback as Israel Keeps Striking Lebanon
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Hezbollah Rejects 30km Ceasefire Pullback as Israel Keeps Striking Lebanon
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Summary
Naim Qassem called the renewed US-backed ceasefire “futile” and “humiliating,” rejecting terms that would require Hezbollah to stop firing and withdraw fighters from southern Lebanon.
The deal, announced by Israel, Lebanon and the US after a fourth round of Washington talks, would create pilot security zones under exclusive Lebanese army control between the border and the Litani River, about 30km north.
Israel said its military would keep firing and operating on the ground for now, and Lebanese media reported multiple strikes Thursday, including attacks that killed six people in Sohmor and near Tyre.
A UN peacekeeper later died of wounds from mortar fire near Marjayoun; Israel blamed Hezbollah for shells that hit the UN position, while the group had not commented.
The rejection leaves a 22 June follow-up meeting in doubt as fighting from the war that spread to Lebanon on 2 March has already killed at least 3,526 people and displaced more than 1 million.
Can US-led talks succeed when Hezbollah, backed by Iran, rejects any deal it deems a 'surrender'?
Is Israel's expanding military operation a prelude to the permanent annexation of southern Lebanon?
What fate awaits over a million displaced Lebanese civilians amid warnings of forced displacement as a potential war crime?
2026 Lebanon Crisis: Israeli Incursion, 1.2 Million Displaced, and the Breakdown of Ceasefire Efforts
Overview
In early June 2026, the conflict between Israel and Lebanon has escalated, with Israeli forces advancing over 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory—the deepest incursion since 2000. This ongoing military campaign has led to Israel occupying areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized more recently. The offensive has severely impacted civilians, causing a deepening humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement and casualties. Despite international concern and diplomatic efforts, the situation remains volatile, with continued hostilities and significant challenges to achieving a lasting ceasefire or improving conditions for affected populations.