Israeli Artillery Shells Southern Lebanon Despite 10-Day Ceasefire

Israeli artillery shelled areas around Beit Lif, al-Qantara and Toul in southern Lebanon on Saturday, violating the 10-day ceasefire that took effect Thursday night after 46 days of intensified Israeli attacks.

Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground reported Israeli bulldozers continuing demolition and land-clearing operations in several areas of southern Lebanon as displaced families streamed south to assess damage to their homes. Lebanese authorities conducted a preliminary assessment before the truce and found nearly 40,000 homes destroyed or damaged.

"There's destruction and it's unliveable. We're taking our things and leaving again," said Fadel Badreddine, who was displaced from Nabatieh. "May God grant us relief and end this whole thing permanently – not temporarily – so we can return to our homes and livelihoods."

Israeli forces launched a ground invasion several kilometers into Lebanese territory during the war. Israeli officials now say Israel will remain in control of 55 towns and villages through what it calls a "yellow line" security zone extending up to 10 kilometers from the border.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the area between the security zone and the Litani River had not yet been cleared of fighters and weapons. "This will have to be done through diplomatic means or continued Israeli military activity after the ceasefire," he said.

Residents living closest to the Israeli border have largely been unable to return, while others faced delays after Israeli attacks damaged bridges linking areas south of the Litani River. Samia Lawand, a resident of Beirut's southern suburbs, found her house badly damaged. "It was hit in the previous war and again in this one," she said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at Baabda Palace on Saturday to discuss security and diplomatic developments. They reviewed efforts to consolidate the ceasefire, including Aoun's contacts with President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and several Arab and foreign leaders.

The government's decision to engage in talks with Israel risks deepening tensions with Hezbollah. Rare face-to-face talks between Lebanon and Israel are expected to resume in the coming days, though both sides appear to have sharply different priorities for ending the conflict that has devastated Lebanon's infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

This is a developing story and will be updated.