Lebanese authorities confirmed on Wednesday that six people were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, hours after the United States announced a three-day extension to a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The strike, which hit a residential building in the village of Taybeh, has raised fresh doubts about the viability of the truce, which was due to expire at midnight. British diplomats are understood to be engaged in urgent discussions with both parties to prevent a full-scale escalation.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hezbollah militant suspected of launching rockets into northern Israel. It claimed to have taken precautions to avoid civilian casualties, but Lebanese health officials reported that all six victims were civilians, including two children. The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from Beirut, which accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreed on 27 November. The truce, mediated by the United States and France, had largely held for two weeks, allowing for the withdrawal of Israeli ground forces from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the border.
The US State Department announced late on Tuesday that it had secured a three-day extension to the ceasefire to allow for further negotiations on the terms of a permanent cessation of hostilities. The extension was welcomed by the Lebanese government but rejected by Hezbollah, which said it would not be bound by any agreement that allowed Israel to continue its operations. The group’s leadership has signalled a readiness to resume rocket attacks if Israel does not withdraw fully from Lebanese territory.
British officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been working behind the scenes, alongside American and French counterparts, to salvage the ceasefire. A spokesperson for the FCDO said: “We are deeply concerned by reports of civilian casualties in Lebanon. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and uphold their commitments under the ceasefire. The United Kingdom is engaging with regional partners to de-escalate tensions and prevent further loss of life.”
The strike has also complicated efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, a parallel track of diplomacy that has been linked to the Lebanon ceasefire. Analysts suggest that the Israeli government is under domestic pressure to maintain military operations against Hezbollah until its northern communities can return safely. The precarious situation underscores the fragility of the current arrangements and the risk of a broader regional conflagration.
