Hours-Old Ceasefire Broken As Israeli Strikes Kill Five in Southern Lebanon

At least five people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, according to Lebanese state media-just hours after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah took effect.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes and drones launched multiple strikes across the Nabatieh region overnight, destroying residential buildings and homes. Artillery fire also targeted the city and its outskirts before dawn.

The attacks came less than a day after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to halt hostilities, following weeks of escalating cross-border violence. A U.S. official confirmed the truce, which began at 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Friday, with senior Israeli officials and two Hezbollah sources also verifying the agreement to Reuters.

The ceasefire followed the signing of a 14-point memorandum earlier this week, designed to pause fighting and open a 60-day window for negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and other contentious issues necessary for a lasting deal.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to solidify a permanent accord appeared to be moving forward. Axios reported that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are both heading to Switzerland for talks. Witkoff is set to join Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, who is already in the country, while Araghchi is expected to arrive on Saturday.

The diplomatic push signals a possible start to technical negotiations aimed at securing a more durable ceasefire. The White House did not comment on Witkoff's travel plans.

Vice President JD Vance had canceled his own trip to Switzerland on Thursday, as tensions in Lebanon escalated prior to the truce.