Jerusalem: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated Wednesday that a temporary ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran does not apply to Lebanon. During a phone conversation with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Sa'ar emphasized the ongoing commitment of Israel and the US to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He affirmed that "Lebanon is not Iranian territory and is not part of the ceasefire," as noted in his statement on the US social media platform X.

According to Anadolu Agency, the US and Iran declared a two-week truce on Tuesday, aimed at facilitating a final agreement to end the conflict initiated by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran on February 28. This conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties. Despite Pakistani mediators asserting that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refuted this claim. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has complied with the ceasefire despite ongoing Israeli strikes.

The Israeli military conducted a series of lethal strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, resulting in at least 254 fatalities and 1,165 injuries, as reported by the Lebanese Civil Defense. Israel's military actions, including airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, have persisted since a cross-border assault by Hezbollah on March 2, notwithstanding the ceasefire that was supposed to take effect in November 2024.