South Lebanon is witnessing a notable field escalation represented by explosions that have targeted homes and border villages despite the ceasefire, while attention is turning to Washington where a new round of Lebanese and Israeli talks is being held under American sponsorship to consolidate the truce.

Explosions of houses in the town of Rashaf

The Israeli army carried out a large explosion in the vicinity of Rashaf, Beit Lif, in the Bint Jbeil district. The blast was heard as far as the cities of Tyre and Sidon. The army also blew up houses in the towns of Hanin and Khiam, and set fire to houses in the al Mufaylaha neighborhood west of Mais al Jabal.

تفجيرات عنيفة في بلدة رشاف جنوبي لبنان pic.twitter.com/5gefDVpueP

— Annahar النهار (@Annahar) April 23, 2026

This coincided with artillery shelling that targeted Wadi al Hujair, Wadi al Saluki, and the town of al Qantara, in addition to a series of successive explosions, the latest of which occurred in the town of Rashaf.

Three Hezbollah operations in response

In response, Hezbollah announced the execution of three operations against the Israeli army, including targeting a gathering of soldiers in the town of al Tayibeh, launching an attack drone, in addition to downing a surveillance aircraft in the town of Majdal Zoun, as a response to what it described as violations of the ceasefire.

Israeli army in a new warning to residents of South Lebanon

On the ground as well, the Israeli army issued a warning to residents of South Lebanon not to head to dozens of villages or approach the areas of the Litani River and the Wadi al Salhani and al Saluki valleys, “until further notice.”

Beirut is also preparing to request an extension of the ceasefire for an additional month, along with demands to stop airstrikes, demolition operations, and withdrawal from Lebanese territory, amid fears of the truce collapsing as escalation continues on the ground.

The UN's Role in Lebanon

The United Nations is working to maintain a presence in Lebanon after the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the end of 2026, according to Jean Pierre Lacroix, who indicated that the UN Security Council has requested the preparation of options for the post-UNIFIL phase to be submitted before June next year, with the new presence expected to be likely smaller in scale. He added that Lebanon prefers the continuation of a UN presence but in a different form, amid consultations involving several parties.