Israel strikes southern Lebanon but partial truce appears to hold in Beirut

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - BEIRUT — Israel continued its attacks in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, but did not strike Beirut following a partial ceasefire agreement with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Lebanon said, under an agreement announced by US President Donald Trump late on Monday, Israeli forces would not bomb the capital in exchange for Hezbollah not attacking Israel.

A new round of talks between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors was held in Washington on Tuesday, a day after Trump said he had received commitments of de-escalation from both Israel and Hezbollah.

Tuesday’s talks, the fourth round to be held by diplomatic representatives of the two countries, which do not have ties and have been in a state of war since 1948, were being held at the State Department and are scheduled to last for two days. The US State Department touted “progress” after the session on Tuesday.

A senior Lebanese official told Reuters that the Washington talks would explore ways to reinforce the fragile ceasefire, possibly through phased approaches.

It came after Iran said Israeli action in Lebanon jeopardized talks on a deal to end its war with the US.

Following the ceasefire announcement, the Israeli military said it had intercepted two projectiles fired into northern Israel. Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, where officials reported deadly Israeli strikes.

The Lebanese health ministry also said four people had been killed and 127 injured when Israeli air strikes hit buildings next to Jabal Amel hospital in the city of Tyre on Monday afternoon. Thirty-nine hospital staff were among the injured, with four in a critical condition.

What remained in the area outside the hospital on Tuesday was utter devastation.

Chunks of concrete and twisted metal were scattered across the area. The beeping of damaged cars and the crackle of downed electrical wires echoed through streets that were otherwise eerily quiet.

Dr Wael Mroueh, the hospital's director, had spent the evening dealing with the aftermath.

"We were working with patients and displaced people. Business was as usual, and suddenly, 'boom'," he said. "It happened without any prior warning. Pictures speak volumes."

He also denied that there was a military target in the vicinity.

"The Israeli enemy targets journalists, ambulance workers, medical staff. It makes no difference, and all it wants is to kick us out of our country," he said.

Inside the hospital, corridors were littered with broken glass. Ceiling panels had collapsed onto the floors. A row of incubators stood cracked and damaged by the force of the blast.

The Israeli military said it struck "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure" in the area.

It acknowledged that the attack caused damage to the hospital but emphasized that it "was not targeted". It also accused Hezbollah of embedding itself within civilian infrastructure and population centres, without providing evidence.

The Lebanese health ministry says 128 paramedics and healthcare workers have been killed 159 attacks on ambulances and medical facilities over the past three months.

On Tuesday, Lebanon's civil defence agency said another Israeli strike hit its center in Kfar Sir, in Nabatieh district, causing damage but no casualties. It shared photos on X that showed twisted metal beams hanging from the ceiling and debris covering the floor.

The Israeli military issued a fresh evacuation order for Nabatieh town on Tuesday afternoon. It warned residents that it was "compelled to act forcefully" against Hezbollah there because of the group's "violation of the ceasefire agreement".

It did not give further details, but the Israeli foreign ministry said Hezbollah had violated Monday's declarations by launching "multiple missile and drone attacks from Lebanon against Israeli communities".

Hezbollah's military wing said its fighters had targeted Israeli tanks and troops in the southern Lebanese towns of Haddatha, Bayada and Zawtar al-Sharqiya with drones, missiles and shells. It did not mention any cross-border attacks.

At least 3,468 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war on March 2, according to the country's health ministry.

The UN says more than one million people have also registered themselves as displaced in Lebanon, where Israeli evacuation orders cover more than an eighth of the country.