Fresh Israeli strikes hit Lebanon despite Trump’s call to scale back military action

Israel carried out fresh airstrikes in Lebanon despite US President Donald Trump urging a scaling back of military operations, highlighting continuing tensions in the region amid a fragile ceasefire framework.

According to reports, the strikes targeted areas in southern Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting operations against Hezbollah positions.

The latest attacks come even as diplomatic efforts are underway to stabilise the situation following recent escalations involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Trump had earlier called for restraint, asking Israel to limit its military response in order to maintain momentum towards de-escalation.

His remarks were seen as part of broader efforts by Washington to prevent the conflict from widening further across the Middle East.

Despite this, Israeli forces continued operations, indicating that their campaign against Hezbollah remains active. Israeli officials have maintained that strikes in Lebanon are part of ongoing security operations and are distinct from ceasefire arrangements involving Iran.

The developments underline a key challenge in the current situation: while a temporary ceasefire has reduced direct confrontation between the US and Iran, it does not extend uniformly across all fronts, particularly in Lebanon where hostilities involving Hezbollah persist.

Lebanon has emerged as a significant flashpoint in the broader conflict, with repeated exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah contributing to instability in the region. Civilian areas have also been affected in some of the strikes, raising humanitarian concerns.

The continuation of Israeli operations despite US calls for restraint has added complexity to diplomatic efforts. It highlights differing priorities among allies, with Israel focusing on immediate security concerns related to Hezbollah, while the US is pushing for a broader de-escalation framework.