Israeli Strikes Pound Lebanon, Threatening Fragile US Truce

Israeli forces launched new airstrikes in Lebanon on Thursday. This escalation further endangers a ceasefire agreement led by the United States. The attacks follow Israel's largest strikes of the war on Wednesday, which killed over 250 people in Lebanon. These major bombardments immediately threatened the truce announced by US President Donald Trump. A key part of the ceasefire plan involves direct talks between the US and Iran. Iranian negotiators were scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Thursday for these first peace talks of the war. They are due to meet a delegation led by US Vice-President J.D. Vance on Saturday. However, there is no indication that Iran has delayed its travel plans despite the new Israeli attacks. The continued military action puts the entire diplomatic effort at risk of collapse.