Fighting persists in Lebanon despite a ceasefire as U.S.-Iran deal is under threat

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Middle East Fighting persists in Lebanon despite a ceasefire as U. -Iran deal is under threat June 20, 20266:02 AM ET By The Associated Press Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Friday, June 19, 2026. Leo Correa/AP hide caption toggle caption Leo Correa/AP TYRE, Lebanon — Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least seven people, including two children, hours after reports emerged of a ceasefire agreement.

The persistent fighting threatened an interim agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East. Middle East conflict What you need to know about the preliminary U. -Iran agreement signed by Trump Lebanon's National News Agency said the strikes hit the southern town of Nabatiyeh and nearby villages.

The Details

At least seven people remained trapped under the rubble, it said. Mediators were scrambling to halt the fighting between Israel and the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group, after a heavy exchange on Friday killed at least 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers. An Israeli military official said Hezbollah had fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting the military to start targeting the militant group there.

The official spoke anonymously in line with regulations. Sponsor Message On Friday, Israeli ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, said on X that Israel "remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire" if Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases hostilities. In public statements, Hezbollah has said it will abide by a ceasefire if Israel does, but has not said a ceasefire was actually in place.

A Hezbollah official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said Friday after reports of a ceasefire deal emerged that efforts were underway by Qatar, the U. and Iran to broker an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire but stopped short of confirming a deal had been reached. A conflict that could sink the US-Iran deal Hezbollah and Israel went to war just days after the U.

What Experts Say

and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, with Hezbollah firing rockets and drones at civilian communities in northern Israel and Israel seizing large swaths of southern Lebanon. -Iran agreement signed this week has already reopened the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed as the war unfolded — cutting off the global economy from significant supplies of oil and natural gas.

The deal also envisages the relaunch of talks on Iran's nuclear program, a core issue in the war. Sponsor Message Neither Israel nor Hezbollah are signatories to the deal, which calls for a halt to military operations in Lebanon and for the country's sovereignty to be respected. With the fighting continuing, the accord is under threat and U.

-Iran talks in Switzerland, planned to start Friday, have been delayed, with no new date announced.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.