Israel detonates tunnel, strikes south Lebanon

Israel has ignited fresh tensions in Lebanon, detonating a major Hezbollah tunnel in Majdal Zoun and launching airstrikes in the south, including near Nabatieh, just days after signing a US-brokered trilateral framework agreement aimed at achieving lasting peace. These aggressive moves directly challenge the fragile accord and underscore the deep mistrust that continues to plague the region. One person was killed and two injured in a strike on Nabatieh al-Fawqa on Saturday alone. The newly inked agreement, signed in Washington D.C. on June 26, 2026, with US sponsorship, was intended to pave the way for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament and the Lebanese Armed Forces taking control. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have explicitly stated that Israel will maintain its 'security zone' in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed, effectively tying any withdrawal to conditions Hezbollah vehemently rejects. Hezbollah, for its part, has dismissed the agreement as a 'humiliating' surrender of Lebanese sovereignty and vowed to continue its armed resistance, signalling a clear internal Lebanese division and immediate challenges to the deal's implementation. With Israeli forces already instructed for a 'prolonged stay' in Lebanon security zone and continuous strikes reported, the immediate future looks volatile. The coming days will test whether the trilateral framework can withstand these renewed hostilities and Hezbollah outright rejection, or if the region is poised for further escalation. All eyes are on the US and other international actors to see how they will manage this complex situation and prevent the nascent peace efforts from completely unraveling.