Israel continues Lebanon operations after agreeing ceasefire

Israel continued ground operations in southern Lebanon even after agreeing to a ceasefire with Beirut a day earlier. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain in the security zone, including around Beaufort Castle, and displaced Lebanese residents could not return while the army was still there. The U.S.-brokered agreement also calls for setting up a “pilot zone” that would come under the exclusive control of the Lebanese Armed Forces, with the aim of removing non-state actors. Israel and Lebanon agreed to continue the political and security track on June 22 in pursuit of a more comprehensive deal, but no deadline has been set for implementing the zone.