Israel Strikes More Than 100 Sites Across Lebanon, Deepening Middle East Tensions as Ceasefire Frays

YM Lee

Summary

Israel said it carried out a simultaneous strike on more than 100 sites across Lebanon, marking the largest air raid since the war began.
The strikes are colliding with the two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreement, with claims also emerging that vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted.
After an oil-price drop driven by ceasefire hopes, market volatility is widening again as the latest strikes and renewed risks around the strait come back into focus.

Forecast Trend Report by Period

Israel launched a large-scale air assault across Lebanon, further straining a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

CNN reported on July 8 that the Israel Defense Forces struck more than 100 sites across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon within 10 minutes. Israel described it as the largest air raid since the war began.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 182 people were killed and about 900 were wounded in the attack. Lebanon’s prime minister condemned the strikes as attacks on civilians.

Israel said the operation targeted Hezbollah-linked military facilities. But damage was also reported in civilian areas, drawing broader international criticism.

The strikes have become a point of conflict for the two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreement. The US and Israel said operations in Lebanon are not covered by the truce, while Iran called them a clear violation of the deal.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was halted after the Israeli attack, escalating its rhetoric.

The US reiterated that Iran must keep the Strait of Hormuz open as a condition for maintaining the ceasefire. Vice President JD Vance said Israel needed to show restraint and called for de-escalation.

Oil prices briefly fell on hopes for a ceasefire, but volatility has picked up again as the latest strikes and renewed risks around the strait return to focus.