Strikes and talks continue in Lebanon

What's happened

Since mid-April's US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has continued air and drone strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon and near Beirut while Hezbollah has been firing explosive drones and rockets at Israeli forces. Lebanese authorities have reported rising civilian casualties and infrastructure damage as US-facilitated Israel–Lebanon talks proceed in Washington (25 May 2026).

What's behind the headline?

What's driving the violence

• Israel has been continuing targeted strikes that it says are aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives; Lebanese sources report many of the strikes are hitting populated southern towns and some eastern Bekaa Valley sites.
• Hezbollah is continuing to use explosive and fibre-optic drones, rockets and artillery against Israeli troops and border communities; the group is publicly rejecting direct negotiations under current conditions.

Why diplomacy is fragile

• US-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel are proceeding even while strikes and evacuations are continuing. That dual track will increase political friction: Lebanon's government is negotiating, while Hezbollah is publicly opposing concessions and warning of escalation.

Likely near-term outcomes

• Strikes and counterstrikes will continue to be the default response while both sides are trying to preserve leverage; evacuation warnings and destruction of infrastructure will keep displacing civilians.
• Any US–Iran understanding that includes Lebanon will temporarily reduce regional spillover only if Hezbollah's leadership accepts inclusion and Hezbollah reduces attacks; Hezbollah has stated it will not accept disarmament and is rejecting direct talks.

What to watch next

• Whether the US and Iranian envoys produce a formula that explicitly covers Hezbollah's role in Lebanon and whether Hezbollah will accept being written into any deal.
• Civilian casualty trends and further Israeli evacuation warnings, which will determine humanitarian needs and international pressure.

Impact for readers

• The conflict will keep generating refugee flows and media coverage; regional escalation will increase instability and risks for cross-border civilians. Aid and diplomatic pressure will rise as casualty figures climb.

How we got here

The current rounds of violence have followed Hezbollahs rocket campaign that began on 2 March and Israels wider strikes on Iran-linked targets. A US-brokered ceasefire began on 17 April and has been extended, while Lebanon and Israel have resumed rare direct talks in Washington aimed at preventing further escalation.

Our analysis

The reporting shows consistent factual threads and differing emphases: The New Arab and The Guardian are emphasising Lebanese casualty counts and Hezbollah's political statements — for example, The New Arab quotes Hezbollah deputy Naim Qassem saying he hopes any US–Iran agreement "will be finalised... and accordingly that we too will be among those included in this agreement." The Guardian and AFP reports focus on specific deadly strikes such as the Sir al-Gharbiyeh raid that "resulted in a massacre" according to Lebanon's health ministry. The Times of Israel and Israeli outlets foreground military claims and tactical details: The Times of Israel quotes Israeli commanders calling the drone threat "a tactical threat and not a strategic threat" and describes evacuation warnings and strikes targeting alleged Hezbollah infrastructure. Arab News and AP provide intermediate accounts noting both battlefield incidents (deaths in Tayr Felsay, Tayr Debba, Toura) and the diplomatic track (upcoming military delegation meetings at the Pentagon on 29 May and continued Washington negotiations). Taken together, the sources show: - Lebanese and regional outlets are highlighting civilian tolls and damage, citing health ministry and NNA figures; several outlets use direct quotes denouncing "massacre" and calling for pressure on Israel. - Israeli and Western outlets are emphasising threats from Hezbollah drones and rockets, evacuation warnings, and Israeli operational aims to clear and secure border areas; The Times of Israel quotes Israeli envoys saying disarmament of Hezbollah is required before broader diplomatic progress. The net picture is of an ongoing military-diplomatic standoff with civilians suffering most; readers should consult the original dispatches for local casualty updates and for direct statements such as Qassem's quoted hope that any US–Iran deal "will be finalised" and Israeli military comments that they "continue to strike Hezbollah across all dimensions."

Go deeper

• How many civilians have been killed since the ceasefire began on 17 April?
• What specific proposals are being discussed in Washington to include Lebanon in any US–Iran agreement?

More on these topics

• Hezbollah - Political party

  Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.

• Lebanon - Country in the Middle East

  Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.

• Israel - Country in the Middle East

  Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.

• Israel Defense Forces - Defense force

  The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has

• Benjamin Netanyahu - Prime Minister of Israel

  Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.

• Beirut - Capital of Lebanon

  Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. No recent population census has been conducted, but 2007 estimates ranged from slightly more than 1 million to 2.2 million as part of Greater Beirut, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant re

• United States - Country in North America

  The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.

• Joseph Aoun - Military commander

  Joseph Khalil Aoun is a Lebanese Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017.

• Donald Trump - 45th and 47th U.S. President

  Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.

• Naim Qassem - Secretary-General of Hezbollah

  Naim Qassem is a Shia Lebanese cleric and politician, who was the second-in-command of Hezbollah with the title of deputy secretary-general.

• Tyre - Wikimedia disambiguation page

  Tyre most often refers to: Tyre (wheel), or tire, the outer part of a wheel Tyre, Lebanon, a Mediterranean city Tyre or Tyres may also refer to:

• Nawaf Salam - Former President of the United Nations Security Council

  Nawaf Abdallah Salim Salam is a Lebanese politician, diplomat, jurist and academic who is the prime minister-designate of Lebanon.