June 19, 2026
Fighting escalated sharply between Israel and Hezbollah in south Lebanon overnight, with four Israeli soldiers killed in one of the deadliest attacks by the Iran-backed group during this war, and at least 18 people reported killed in Israeli strikes.
Paris urged Washington to put pressure on Israel to stop hostilities in Lebanon, where the intensifying violence strained an interim deal between the United States and Iran halting the broader Middle East war.
The deal requires the United States, Iran, and their allies to declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Violence abated significantly earlier this week, but has since picked up.
Lebanon's health ministry said 18 people had been killed and 33 wounded in heavy airstrikes in 11 towns since midnight, and that bombardment was preventing rescue and evacuation efforts. It said the toll was expected to rise.
