Israel and Hezbollah continue attacks after Israel-Lebanon talks in US

Fighting between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah persisted following direct talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, which were intended to reduce tensions. Despite the negotiations, clashes continued in border regions, including towns like Saadiyat and Jiyeh, where Israeli strikes hit two vehicles on the coastal highway south of Beirut. Footage from the scene showed a burned-out van, with first responders working to put out flames and recover human remains. The Israeli military offered no immediate statement on the incident.

Rockets and casualties in northern Israel

In northern Israel, a man was injured in Tamra after Hezbollah launched approximately 30 rockets across the border. The military confirmed the attack, noting Hezbollah targeted 10 locations in the region. Meanwhile, Israeli troops maintained ground operations in southern Lebanon, striking over 200 Hezbollah infrastructure sites, including rocket launchers, in the past 24 hours. Authorities also urged residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate due to ongoing bombardment.

Security buffer zone plan

Israel announced plans to establish a security buffer zone within Lebanese territory, extending 8 to 10km into the country. The goal, as stated by officials, is to safeguard Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks. This move aligns with the broader objective of creating a strategic advantage in the region.

Washington meeting and ceasefire dynamics

A high-level meeting in Washington on Tuesday brought Israeli and Lebanese representatives together for the first direct talks in three decades. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who mediated the discussions, called it a “historic opportunity,” emphasizing the “decades of history” behind the conflict. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed cautious optimism, hoping the talks would “mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people.”

“This is a historic opportunity,” said Marco Rubio, flanked by US, Israeli, and Lebanese flags.

“I hope the negotiations will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people,” stated Joseph Aoun.

Israel described the talks as part of a long-term strategy against Hezbollah, asserting that the meeting reinforced the alliance between the two nations. “We are on the same side of the equation,” claimed Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, framing the process as a “battle against Hezbollah.” However, no formal ceasefire was announced, highlighting divisions within Lebanon. Hezbollah rejected the negotiations, with one of its MPs, Hassan Fadlallah, warning that the government’s decision to engage with Israel could deepen internal strife. He argued the group seeks a comprehensive ceasefire, not a return to the frequent strikes and assassinations that followed the November 2024 agreement.

Humanitarian toll escalates

The conflict has worsened the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Officials report that since hostilities resumed on 2 March, Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,124 people, including 254 women and 168 children, while displacing over one million others. Hezbollah, in turn, has claimed responsibility for 12 Israeli soldier fatalities and two civilian deaths during the same period.