Israel Attacks Lebanon Highlights: Iran FM says Israel’s attacks in Lebanon must end under ceasefire deal

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said:

“The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific,” the UN rights chief said.

“Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians,” he added.

“Each and every attack must comply with international humanitarian law fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions to protect civilians,” Türk said.

“These principles are non-negotiable, and must always be respected, whatever the circumstances of armed conflict.”

He added: “There must be prompt and independent investigations into all alleged violations, and those responsible brought to justice.”

Vance stressed that the US position is that the ceasefire focuses solely on Iran and U.S. allies, including Israel and the Gulf Arab states.

“I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't,” US Vice President JD Vance told reporters in Budapest.

Netanyahu highlighted the intensity of recent operations, describing one of the most powerful attacks in years.

"Today, we dealt Hezbollah its most severe blow since the pager attacks — striking one hundred targets in 10 minutes, in areas it believed were immune," he said, referencing a major 2024 operation involving pager bombs.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue, emphasizing that the recent ceasefire with Iran does not apply to the Lebanese armed group.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue, emphasizing that the recent ceasefire with Iran does not apply to the Lebanese armed group.

"We continue to strike it with force," Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

"The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments -- a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again," Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X, listing three violations of the Iranian proposal.

"Now, the very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began. In such (a) situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable."

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X:

"The Iran–U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose—ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both."

"The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments."

White House demands Iran reopen Strait of Hormuz immediately after Iran says it closed waterway, reports AP.

Lebanon is ​not part of the ‌ceasefire agreement US has with Iran "because of Hezbollah" ​but will "get taken ​care of," US President Donald Trump ⁠told PBS News.

At least 112 people were killed and 837 wounded in Israel's air strikes on Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz over Israeli attacks on Lebanon, AP cites Iranian state media

Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 89 people have been killed and 700 wounded in Israel’s midday strikes in Beirut

Hezbollah strongly condemned Israeli attacks across Lebanon, including in central Beirut without warning.

The group said it reserves its “natural and legal right to resist occupation and respond to its attacks.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry accuses Lebanese authorities of failing to disarm Hezbollah, said they did not prevent attacks on Israel

-Claimed Lebanon’s leadership is criticising Israeli strikes instead of taking action

-Alleged failure to demilitarise southern Lebanon as agreed

-Said Israel will act to remove the threat if Lebanon does not

Building engulfed in flames after Israeli strike in Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut just hours after a ceasefire in the US-Israel war with Iran was announced.

Attacks targeted dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning.

Israel said the truce does not apply to Hezbollah in Lebanon

Strikes linked to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah (AP video)

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of “persistently seeking to sabotage” the US-Iran ceasefire, said the attacks breach international law

Arab League chief said: Israel “continues to play an obstructive role” to regional stability

Arab League chief urged the international community to pressure Israel, called for Israel to stop attacks on Lebanon immediately

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun called the Israeli strikes as “barbaric”, claimed Israel carried out a “new massacre” in Lebanon.

Aoun said Israel bears complete responsibility for the attacks, added continued aggression “will only lead to further tension and instability”

Aoun says Israel's escalation comes at a moment when “everyone is most in need of de-escalation”

Tasnim News Agency, a semi-official news agency in Iran [2] associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cited a source:

"Iran will exit the ceasefire agreement if Israel persists in violating the truce by continuing its attacks on Lebanon"

“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif wrote on X, without mentioning Iraseli attacks in Lebanon.

Jeanine Hennis, Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), wrote on X:

"Today’s wave of IDF strikes came just as hopes for an end to violence and destruction were rising. This cannot go on. Neither side can shoot or strike their way to victory. Now is the time for a halt to all hostilities, direct talks and a clear roadmap based on resolution 1701."

"The wave of airstrikes carried out by the Israeli army today came at a time when hopes were growing around the possibility of halting the violence and destruction. This situation cannot continue. Neither side can achieve victory through firing or shelling. The time has come to stop all hostile actions, conduct direct negotiations, and establish a clear roadmap based on Resolution 1701."

A senior Iranian official reportedly said Tehran will “punish Israel” over strikes in Lebanon.

Israel accused of committing a “crime… and violating ceasefire terms.”

“The ceasefire includes the region,” the official reportedly said.

(Al Jazeera)

Dozens of charred vehicles

Rubble of concrete and twisted metal

Entire residential block devastated

Rescue work ongoing more than two hours after strikes

Lebanese teams used forklifts to clear burned cars and debris in Beirut.

Victims found inside parked vehicles at a traffic light

Others seen lying on the ground

Strike occurred at Corniche al-Mazraa intersection

One of Beirut’s busiest junctions, linking city centre, airport, coast, and suburbs

Full extent of casualties and damage still being assessed

Israel's scale of operation on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon:

50 fighter jets deployed

160 munitions launched

100 targets hit in just 10 minutes
(AP)

Israel carried out its biggest attack on Lebanon in over a month, according to military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani.

Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said:

“We are seeing them move in a more dispersed way and try to embed their operations behind civilians more and more.”

Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Shoshani added Hezbollah is moving beyond traditional strongholds like southern Lebanon and Dahiyeh into densely populated areas, including downtown Beirut. (AP)

-Israel launched dozens of air strikes across Lebanon, marking one of the largest attacks in the conflict’s history.

-Air raids hit residential buildings, mosques, vehicles, and cemeteries across the country.

-Hundreds reported injured, dozens killed, with numbers still rising as rescue operations continue

-Multiple strikes in central Beirut

-A building flattened in Corniche al-Mazraa

-Intensified strikes in south and east Lebanon

-Strikes also reported in Tyre and Sidon

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel deliberately separated the Iran and Lebanon fronts:

“We insisted on differentiating between the arenas of Iran and Lebanon in order to change the reality in Lebanon and remove threats from the residents of the north.”

The strikes come a day after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, aimed at preventing wider regional escalation. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that the truce does not extend to Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes targeted hundreds of Hezbollah members at command centres.

“The IDF carried out a surprise strike on hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists at command centres across Lebanon.”

He described the operation as: “The largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Beepers.”

Israel launched a large-scale, surprise military operation against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Wednesday, even as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect.