The fragile ceasefire brokered by the UK and international partners was tested again last night as Israeli forces launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon. The strikes, which targeted what the Israeli military described as Hezbollah infrastructure, came hours after the militant group condemned the ceasefire agreement as a betrayal of Lebanese sovereignty. For the families in the border villages, the sound of explosions is a bitter reminder that peace remains elusive.
The deal, which secured a temporary halt to the worst violence in years, now hangs by a thread. Hezbollah's leadership has accused Israel of violating the terms, while Israel insists it is acting in self-defence. The UK government, which played a key role in the negotiations, has called for restraint on both sides.
But in the kitchens and living rooms of the North, where the cost of bread and the strength of unions are the daily concerns, this distant conflict feels both far away and dangerously close. The question remains: how long can a deal hold when trust is so thin?
