Mideast Live Updates: Israel and Hezbollah Trade Strikes, Leaving New Cease-Fire in Doubt

A U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon collapsed within hours of its announcement on June 4. Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, dismissed the deal as illusory, stating it demanded Hezbollah halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon without requiring Israel to end its offensive or withdraw its forces. The group continued firing rockets into northern Israel while Israeli strikes targeted southern Lebanon, raising doubts about the agreement’s viability. Lebanon’s government, which was part of the U.S.-led talks but lacks control over Hezbollah, faces pressure to rein in the Iran-backed militant group. The conflict has already killed over 3,500 people and displaced more than one million since March, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israel has escalated its offensive in recent weeks, despite truce negotiations, while Iran insists Lebanon must be included in broader peace talks—a demand rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who seeks Hezbollah’s complete disarmament. The violence extended to U.N. peacekeepers, with a Serbian peacekeeper killed and two others wounded in a mortar attack on their base in southern Lebanon. The U.N. is investigating the incident, which occurred hours before the cease-fire announcement. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 11 people and wounded over 30 in the past 24 hours, targeting Hamas operatives, according to health authorities and the Israeli military. The breakdown of the cease-fire complicates U.S. efforts to end the wider war against Iran, which began on February 28. President Trump downplayed the conflict’s significance, claiming it was progressing better than expected. Iran’s insistence on including Lebanon in peace talks clashes with Israel’s refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon or disarm Hezbollah, deepening regional tensions. Hezbollah’s rejection of the deal reflects its demand for an end to Israel’s offensive and a full military withdrawal. The group’s reliance on Iran for support strengthens its position, while Israel’s reluctance to halt operations underscores its strategic objectives. With no clear path to de-escalation, the conflict risks further destabilizing Lebanon and the broader Middle East.