Beirut, May 14, 2026
On Sunday, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, agreed upon during negotiations mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, ended without any signs of a resolution to the conflict.
Escalation Despite Truce
Since the declaration of the truce, an additional 10,000 homes have been destroyed, and around 380 people have been killed, including children and medical personnel. In total, more than 2,700 people have died since the escalation began in early March. Israel claims "about six percent of the land" and openly states its intention to establish a ten-kilometer-deep zone along the border, modeled after Gaza, as a "buffer zone"—effectively occupying it.
"Alongside the open announcements about a 'buffer zone,' this points more to intentions for a prolonged occupation," diplomatic sources say. The Lebanese leadership has so far dismissed such plans as "premature."