Israel–Hezbollah conflict 2026 and UK response

On 1 March 2026, Hezbollah, a non-state group based in Lebanon and which the UK has proscribed as a terrorist organisation, launched missile attacks against Israel following US and Israeli attacks on Iran from 28 February 2026. Israel initially responded with airstrikes and subsequently launched a ground offensive.

While talks on ending the Israel/US–Iran conflict are being mediated by Pakistan, there is a separate track between the governments of Lebanon and Israel. The governments reached a deal on an initial cessation of hostilities on 16 April 2026, but high-intensity fighting continued until 20 June. Iran has said it will only proceed in wider talks with the US if fighting ends in Lebanon.

This briefing provides a summary of the armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the humanitarian situation, the status of negotiations, and the UK Government’s response. The Commons Library collection Iran in 2026 has more research on the region.

A history of Israel–Hezbollah conflict

This is the fourth extensive period of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since Hezbollah first emerged in Lebanon’s civil war in the 1980s.

Hezbollah and Israel have fought during the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon (from 1982 to 2000), in 2006, and in 2023 to 2024. Iran has provided major support to Hezbollah as part of its network of armed and terrorist groups across the Middle East. From 2023, Iran and its allied groups have been significantly degraded by Israeli military action.

The 2006 conflict resulted in UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701, which called for Hezbollah and Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty and for the Lebanese state to have a monopoly on weapons. A related UNSC Resolution 1559 (2004), is also in place. This calls for respect for Lebanon’s territorial unity and independence under the authority of its government. As set out in the Commons Library briefing on the 2023–24 conflict, that 2023–24 conflict’s ceasefire agreement envisaged Lebanese state armed forces (LAF) being deployed to southern Lebanon in place of Hezbollah, and for attacks by Israel and Hezbollah to cease.

However, while the Lebanese Government adopted a plan to disarm Hezbollah in 2025 and LAF-controlled areas in southern Lebanon have since increased, Hezbollah has refused to disarm without Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Since the 2024 agreement, Israeli attacks have also continued, with Israel saying that Hezbollah was rearming (although in November 2025 the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said that it had seen “no evidence” that Hezbollah was rebuilding its forces). The Israeli Government also said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would retain a presence at five sites in southern Lebanon. In 2026, the IDF has expanded its area of control and said that it “will not withdraw from the security zone and expose our citizens to Hezbollah’s attacks”.

Humanitarian situation

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing Lebanese government data, reports that, up to 22 June 2026, at least 4,175 Lebanese citizens have been killed since hostilities began on 2 March 2026. The data does not break down the number of military and civilian casualties. Up to 1.2 million people in Lebanon registered as internally displaced (around 18% of the population).

In northern Israel, around 90% of the 60,000 people evacuated during the 2023–24 Israel–Hezbollah conflict had returned by mid-2025. Media reports suggest few people left northern Israel in response to the 2026 conflict.

Israel–Lebanon talks in 2026

In 2026, negotiations on the conflict are between the Lebanese and Israeli governments, mediated by the US. The two governments do not have diplomatic relations, and the negotiations are the highest-level talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. Hezbollah opposes the direct talks.

The two countries agreed an initial cessation of hostilities on 16 April 2026, and further agreements on 3 June 2026 and 19 June 2026. The text of the 3 June agreement said that the ceasefire was “contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from the South Litani” River area of south Lebanon.

The 3 June text also said that any ceasefire would not be arranged “through any separate track”. However, Iran has said that fighting in Lebanon would violate the memorandum of understanding signed with the US on 17 June 2026 (Hezbollah echoes Iran’s position) and on 20 June 2026, Iran announced that it would shut the Strait of Hormuz until a ceasefire holds. Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, has said that the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire talks are “independent” of the US–Iran talks. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel will retain its presence in southern Lebanon and “reconsider” its approach once Hezbollah disarms.

UK Government response in 2026

The UK Government backs the talks between Israel and Lebanon, but on 1 June 2026 said that “progress is being undermined by both Hezbollah and Israel”. On 3 June 2026, the Middle East Minister, Hamish Falconer, described Israeli military action as a “disproportionate escalation” and called on Hezbollah to “end [its] attacks and disarm”. The UK has called for the “swift implementation” of UNSC Resolution 1701.

The UK Government has committed around £43 million in humanitarian aid to address the humanitarian situation in Lebanon.