Lebanon conflict deepens amid fragile ceasefire
Lebanon has once again been drawn into escalating conflict, reviving deep political and security challenges that remain unresolved despite years of fragile ceasefires and diplomatic efforts. During a meeting last August at the presidential palace in Beirut, Joseph Aoun expressed cautious optimism about stabilising the country after a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel. A former army chief, he had pledged to address one of Lebanon’s most complex issues: the group’s weapons. At the time, a ceasefire reached in November 2024 had reduced large-scale fighting. However, Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah-linked sites continued almost daily, and tensions never fully subsided. Fragile ceasefire collapses The situation worsened after the killing of Ali Khamenei during a US-Israeli strike on Tehran earlier this year. In response, Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, prompting a strong military reaction, including air strikes and a renewed ground offensive […]