South Lebanon truce violations: complex Hezbollah ops, Israel shifts fighting south
South Lebanon ceasefire violations: Hezbollah’s complex operations and Israel moves fighting to the south
The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that the casualty toll in southern Lebanon has risen to 2,969 people amid ongoing South Lebanon ceasefire violations, while a military expert said that “Hezbollah” has begun implementing “complex operations” combining drones, explosive devices, and artillery, coinciding with an escalation of Israeli airstrikes.
Complex operations.. continuous field attrition
Brigadier General Hassan Joni, a military and strategic expert, confirmed that there are increasing indicators of a shift in the pattern of military operations carried out by “Hezbollah” in southern Lebanon, with the emergence of a “complex operations” tactic similar to methods previously used in the Gaza Strip.
Joni said that “Hezbollah” no longer relies solely on dive drone attacks, but has developed its field methods to include sequential and interconnected operations based on more than one combat tool in a single engagement.
He added that this new pattern combines detonating explosive devices or planting landmines, followed by artillery strikes, within complex attacks aimed at inflicting losses and confusing Israeli forces.
Joni explained that this development comes within a broader strategy based on establishing a continuous state of field attrition, by keeping contact lines active and preventing the stabilization of Israeli forces in border areas.
Joni: “Current truce serves Israel”
In contrast, Israeli airstrikes continue in southern Lebanon, taking a daily toll on residential buildings and southern villages.
Joni pointed out that some areas receive evacuation warnings before being bombed, while other areas are targeted without warning. He said that expanding warnings to include 9 southern villages reflects a gradual shift in the scope of military operations, confirming that the Israeli army is continuing its aerial operations extending from the Nabatieh region to east of Sidon and the Lebanese coast.
Joni believes that the current truce or ceasefire pattern serves Israel, because it gives it the freedom to carry out operations inside Lebanese territory while keeping the engagement geographically confined to the south.
He said the intensity of Israeli airstrikes aims to pressure the areas from which Hezbollah operates, and push it to refrain from targeting Israeli forces.
Joni said the Israeli army continues to bomb villages and expand its operations, in an attempt to impose a new deterrence equation, in his words.
Joni: “Extension of calm, an extension of the current reality”
Politically, Joni considered that extending the truce by 45 days is an extension of the current reality and not an actual ceasefire, explaining that the existing arrangements kept the scope of engagement confined to southern Lebanon, with Beirut, its southern suburbs, and the Bekaa excluded from targeting except in exceptional cases according to Israeli assessment.
He said that Israel seeks through negotiations to impose new security arrangements in southern Lebanon, including pressuring the Lebanese state and army to confront “Hezbollah.” In contrast, the Lebanese state believes that the current balance of power and internal division weaken its negotiating position.
Rising death toll and displaced
The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that the casualty toll since March 2 has exceeded 2,969 people, including more than 400 since the truce came into effect on April 17, in addition to 9,112 injured. The military campaign has displaced approximately 1.2 million people.
For its part, the Israeli army announced the death of an additional soldier in southern Lebanon, raising its total death toll to 19, and said it had killed more than 220 “Hezbollah” fighters during the past week.
The Israeli Air Force also mentioned that it had targeted more than 440 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over 7 days.
33 Hezbollah operations within 24 hours
“Hezbollah” published a summary of its operations over 24 hours, stating that it carried out 33 operations against Israeli gatherings and vehicles, using dive drones, explosive devices, guided missiles, and artillery, including targeting tanks, bulldozers, and armored personnel carriers, in addition to engaging Israeli aircraft with surface-to-air missiles.
Lebanese Negotiating Delegation
The Beirut negotiating delegation announced yesterday evening, Friday, following the conclusion of two days of talks at the US State Department in Washington, several outcomes agreed upon with the Israeli and American sides.
The delegation stated in a statement that the parties agreed to extend the current ceasefire arrangements for an additional 45 days, with a US-sponsored security track to be launched at the Pentagon on May 29.
It added that it was decided to hold the next round of meetings on June 2 and 3, 2026, at the US State Department in Washington, with a commitment to review progress made with the aim of possibly renewing the ceasefire again.
The delegation explained that Lebanese priorities in this track include: restoring full sovereignty of the Lebanese state over all its territory, ensuring the safe return of displaced persons to the south, launching sustainable reconstruction efforts, releasing Lebanese detainees and recovering the remains of deceased persons.
The delegation stressed the need to adopt an independent verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of all commitments without compromising Lebanese sovereignty, noting that the United States will facilitate and enhance military coordination channels between Lebanon and Israel.
At the conclusion of its statement, the delegation affirmed that Lebanon is negotiating for a future where its borders are respected and its sovereignty is preserved solely by the Lebanese army, expressing its welcome of the negotiation results, which it described as achieving tangible diplomatic progress in Lebanon’s favor. Meanwhile, an official at the US State Department described the third round of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon as “productive and positive.”
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On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly-productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress. The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June… pic.twitter.com/Dcs9NJDdN5
— Tommy Pigott (@statedeptspox) May 15, 2026
