US Israel Iran War Latest Update: At least three people were killed in fresh Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, just hours after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through a digital agreement. The attacks came even as diplomatic efforts were underway to reduce tensions in the region.
The Israeli military said it would continue operations in southern Lebanon and insisted it is acting to “remove threats” beyond its declared security zone. It also released a map showing this buffer area, which extends about 10 kilometres inside Lebanese territory. The army said its forces will remain deployed there “to remove threats and strengthen the defence of Israel’s northern residents.”
US Israel Iran War Latest Update: Casualties Reported as Violence Escalates on Lebanon–Israel Border
Lebanese state media reported that one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon shortly after the agreement was signed. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that one of its soldiers was killed in a separate incident in southern Lebanon the night before, while seven others were injured.
An Israeli military official also called on the Lebanese Armed Forces to coordinate actions in the region and warned civilians to avoid entering the security zone due to ongoing military operations.
US Israel Iran War Latest Update: US–Iran MoU Calls for End to Military Operations Including Lebanon
The US and Iran signed the MoU on Thursday, which calls for the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” and commits both sides to avoid initiating any war or military action against each other.
The agreement also states that the final deal will formally confirm the permanent end of hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, along with additional security arrangements to follow.
US Israel Iran War Latest Update: Role of Hezbollah in the Lebanon Conflict
Lebanon was pulled into the wider West Asia conflict through Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group. The group entered the conflict in March by launching attacks on Israel, saying it was responding to earlier strikes during the US-Israeli military campaign in the region. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes across Lebanon and later launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon, an area close to the Israeli border where Hezbollah has long held strong influence.
Lebanon–Israel Ceasefire Talks and Washington Mediation
Since April, Lebanon and Israel have been engaged in talks in Washington aimed at reducing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and separating the Lebanon conflict from wider regional tensions.
After two days of high-level discussions hosted by the United States, both sides agreed to a ceasefire framework, marking a major diplomatic step after months of fighting along the border.
According to a joint statement by the US, Lebanon, and Israel, the ceasefire depends on Hezbollah fully stopping its attacks and withdrawing its fighters from areas south of the Litani River.
