Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel "at war with Hezbollah" and ordered an acceleration of military operations across Lebanon, directing the Israeli military to deliver a "crushing blow" against the armed group [1][3][14]. The announcement, made via a Telegram video on May 25, was followed within hours by Israeli airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley, southern Lebanon, and areas near Sidon, killing at least 17 people according to Anadolu Agency [2], though France 24 and Tagesschau reported at least three killed in the initial strikes [5][14]. Residents of Beirut's southern suburbs fled en masse after the strikes began [5][8]. The escalation marks a sharp intensification beyond the evacuation orders and ceasefire extension discussions that had defined the previous phase of the conflict.
Netanyahu framed the offensive as a response to Hezbollah's drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel. "Wir befinden uns im Krieg mit der Hisbollah, und wir werden unsere Angriffe verstärken" (We are at war with Hezbollah, and we will intensify our strikes), he stated [14]. The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said the IDF was "compelled to operate against [Hezbollah] with force" due to ceasefire violations, and issued evacuation orders for ten villages in southern Lebanon [5][11]. An unnamed U.S. official said Hezbollah had "ignored repeated requests to stop firing at Israel, including a recent ultimatum" [8], and a separate U.S. official defended Israel's right to respond, warning that Hezbollah's actions risked derailing U.S.–Iran negotiations [15].
Far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition pushed for measures well beyond the prime minister's stated objectives. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded that "for every explosive drone, 10 buildings must fall in Beirut" and announced approval of a special budget of roughly two billion shekels for counter-drone development [14]. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for cutting electricity to Lebanon, conquering the Dahiyeh — Beirut's southern suburb — and seizing the Zahrani River, located north of the Litani [5][13]. Ben-Gvir urged Netanyahu to "bang on Trump's table and inform him that we are returning to war in Lebanon" [1][8]. Middle East Eye reported that Israeli media described Hezbollah's use of advanced first-person-view drones equipped with fibre-optic guidance and thermal imaging, which has intensified domestic pressure on the government [13].
Hezbollah said its strikes were defensive. The group stated it launched 22 drone and rocket attacks against Israeli soldiers, tanks, and barracks "in response to the violation of the ceasefire" by Israel [3][6]. Middle East Eye reported Hezbollah's claim that its fighters destroyed two Israeli Merkava tanks near Dabl using Ababil drones and struck Israeli troop gatherings at positions in southern Lebanon [9]. Since March, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed by Hezbollah fighters, according to Al Jazeera [12]. The BBC reported that over 400 Lebanese have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, compared to ten Israeli soldiers [3]. Al Jazeera separately reported that 23 Israeli soldiers had been killed by Hezbollah since March, a figure that covers a broader timeframe than the ceasefire period [12].
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insisted that a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is "non-negotiable," stating: "Die israelischen Angriffe haben nicht aufgehört und unsere Dörfer im Süden leiden noch immer unter der erneuten Besatzung" (The Israeli attacks have not stopped and our villages in the south are still suffering under renewed occupation) [11]. Reuters reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces had earlier announced operational control of southern Lebanon in line with the U.S.-mediated ceasefire, though Israel maintained that Hezbollah remained present [19]. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected disarmament and direct negotiations with Israel, labeling the Lebanese government an "American-Israeli project" and stating: "Wenn diese Regierung nicht in der Lage ist, Souveränität herzustellen, dann sollte sie gehen" (If this government is not able to establish sovereignty, then it should go) [11]. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Qassem's remarks, accusing him of wanting to "plunge Lebanon back into chaos" [5].
International condemnation of the strikes came from multiple directions. Qatar's Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli assaults as a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701" [24]. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the strikes threatened the emerging negotiation process for a Middle East settlement [26]. The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed outrage at strikes in densely populated areas, reporting more than 100 killed and hundreds wounded across the intensified operations, including women, children, and medical workers [17]. Médecins Sans Frontières described "indiscriminate" strikes on densely populated areas less than ten hours after a ceasefire announcement, calling forced displacement a war crime [28]. Human Rights Watch documented the widespread and unlawful use of white phosphorus in populated areas [18]. Anadolu Agency separately reported the use of incendiary phosphorus munitions on agricultural lands in southern Lebanon [2]. BBC Persian reported that Iran called the attacks a "clear violation of the ceasefire" and asked the U.S. to stop Israel's aggression [25].
The escalation unfolded against a backdrop of broader regional diplomacy. Rubio said a deal with Tehran remained possible, noting "there were some talks going on in Qatar" [4]. The Guardian reported that Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei attributed the difficulty in securing a U.S.–Iran agreement to "confusion in US positions and Israeli interference" [6]. U.S. Democratic lawmakers urged President Donald Trump to pressure Netanyahu to curb strikes, arguing that excluding Lebanon from the U.S.–Iran ceasefire framework risked broader conflict [16]. Israeli opposition leader Yaïr Lapid attacked Netanyahu's strategy, stating: "Le gouvernement israélien est en fait à un niveau historiquement bas dans sa capacité à influencer les décisions à Washington" (The Israeli government is in fact at a historically low level in its ability to influence decisions in Washington) [10]. The Times of Israel reported that top Israeli leaders were openly discussing the creation of a new security zone in southern Lebanon, with Defense Minister Israel Katz insisting on maintaining control up to the Litani River until the Hezbollah threat is removed [20].
Iranian military officials warned of further retaliation. Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said any new attack would be met with a "much harsher" response extending beyond the region [7]. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called for Islamic unity, asserting that the U.S. was losing its position in the region [7]. Prensa Latina reported that Hezbollah had responded to the broader Israeli offensive with missiles and drones, including strikes against an Iron Dome battery [27].
Washington-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to continue in the coming days, though the intensification of strikes and the fracturing of the ceasefire have cast doubt on the diplomatic track [3][5].