Lebanese official media reported fresh Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, just hours after Israel and Lebanon announced an agreement to implement a conditional ceasefire following US-mediated talks in Washington. The strikes cast immediate doubt on efforts to reduce hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border after months of escalating violence.

According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA), Israeli drones targeted roads and other locations across southern Lebanon, with at least one strike causing casualties. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military reported that air raid sirens had sounded in northern Israel due to a suspected aerial threat. One incident involving a "suspicious aerial target" was later resolved, while another alert was determined to be a false alarm.

The ceasefire agreement was announced after a fourth round of talks led by the United States in Washington. In a joint statement, Israel and Lebanon said the truce would require a "complete cessation" of attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. The two sides also agreed to establish pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces would assume exclusive control of territory, preventing the presence of non-state armed groups in those areas.

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Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, opposition to the agreement emerged quickly. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticised the deal, describing it as a "serious mistake". Before the ceasefire announcement, Hezbollah said it had launched rockets at Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in the southern Lebanese town of Qantara and carried out drone attacks near the strategic Beaufort Castle area.

The latest agreement follows an earlier ceasefire announced on April 17 that failed to halt the fighting, with both Israel and Hezbollah accusing each other of repeated violations. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people since the conflict intensified on March 2, while the World Health Organisation reported that more than 600 people have died in Lebanon since the April truce. Hezbollah has also indicated that it would reject any arrangement viewed as a partial ceasefire, underscoring the challenges facing efforts to secure a lasting peace.

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