BEIRUT, 18 April. - (ANA) - At least one person was killed and several others were wounded in Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Saturday despite a US-brokered truce which was agreed on 16 April.

 

The 10-day truce came into effect at midnight on Friday, however, shortly after Israel launched new attacks in the south of the country.

 

A motorcyclist was killed and three others were wounded in shelling carried out by an Israeli drone on the town of Qounine in the Bint Jbeil district.

 

An ambulance team in the same town was also targeted by shelling and machine gun fire, resulting in several injuries.

 

The truce is supposed to bring an end to Israeli strikes, which started on 2 March and have killed at least 2,294 people while injuring at least.

 

According to the terms outlined by the US State Department, the truce should pave the way to a lasting ceasefire. It also states that that no country or group has claim to be the guarantor of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

 

However, one of the terms, which states that Israel reserves its right to take "all necessary self-defence measures at any time against attacks", has raised concerns that it will be exploited by Israel to carry out further bombardment.

 

In the first day of the truce, Israeli bombardment and explosions were also recorded in the towns of Taybeh, Deir Siryan, and Khaim, located in the Marjayoun district.

 

Two artillery shells were also fired towards the town of Beit Siyad in the Tyre district.

 

In eastern Lebanon, the sound of Israeli reconnaissance flights could be heard intensely over the Rashaya district and in the western slopes of Mount Hermon.

 

The developments come as Hezbollah announced a cautious commitment to the agreement, and reiterated that the truce must be a prelude to the withdrawal of all Israeli forces.

 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that the direct talks with Israel, which mark the first in decades, "are not a sign of weakness, retreat or concession".

 

He also said Lebanon was on the verge of a "new phase" of "permanent agreements".

 

"It is the phase of transition from working on a ceasefire to working on permanent agreements that preserve the rights of our people, the unity of our land, and the sovereignty of our nation," he said.

 

"Today, we negotiate for ourselves... we are no longer a pawn in anyone's game, nor an arena for anyone's wars, and we never will be again," he continued.

 

Before Saturday's attacks, US President Donald Trump said Washington had barred Israel from bombing Lebanon anymore.

 

"Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!" he posted on the Truth Social platform on Friday.

 

After this, Axios quoted an American source, and another who was familiar with the matter, stating that Israel had requested clarifications from the White House on what the post meant.

 

The sources said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjmain Netanyahu was "astonished" and "concerned" when he say the remarks from Trump.

 

On Saturday, the second day of the truce, tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians continued to return to their homes and villages to inspect the destruction.

 

Most of the displaced still lack access to water, hot meals, sanitary items and basic goods. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/18 April 2026 - - -