Netanyahu Orders Army to 'Vigorously Attack' Hezbollah as Lebanon Ceasefire Frays

What happened

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the IDF to 'vigorously attack' Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, hours after six people were reported killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanese towns. The directive comes despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah being extended by three weeks last week.

Why now

Israeli officials cite renewed Hezbollah weapons movements and a small number of cross-border drone incidents as the trigger. Hezbollah denies ceasefire violations and accuses Israel of using the truce as cover for targeted killings.

The wider picture

- The Lebanon ceasefire is one of two fragile truces holding the regional war in check; the other is the U.S.-Iran pause centred on Islamabad talks that have now stalled.
- Cease-fires in both Lebanon and Iran are 'on shaky ground', the New York Times reports, with diplomatic channels stalled.
- Hezbollah's military leadership has been thinned by previous Israeli operations, but its rocket and drone capacity remains substantial.

What to watch

Whether Hezbollah responds with rockets into northern Israel, which would likely end the truce in practice. Lebanese caretaker officials have appealed to Washington and Paris to intervene before the ceasefire collapses.