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 responded with airstrikes and then launched a ground offensive.

After several rounds of talks, including a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, in June 2026 the governments of Lebanon, Israel and the US established a trilateral framework to end the conflict. However, some conflict has continued. The framework envisages that Hezbollah will disarm, the Lebanese Armed Forces will enter the areas formerly controlled by Hezbollah, and Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon. No timescale has been set for these.

This briefing provides an overview of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict of 2026 and the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, the status of the trilateral framework and challenges to its implementation, and the UK Government response.

The Commons Library collections Iran in 2026 and Middle East instability have more research on the region and Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

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.

Conflicts from the 1980s to the present

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 substantial 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.

UN Security Council and Lebanese sovereignty

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.

Conflict continued after the 2024 ceasefire

In 2025, the Lebanese Government adopted a plan to disarm Hezbollah and the LAF were able to expand their territorial control in southern Lebanon. But Hezbollah refused to disarm without Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Since the 2024 agreement, Israeli attacks also continued, with Israel saying that Hezbollah was rearming. However, in November 2025 the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that it had seen “no evidence” that Hezbollah was rebuilding its forces.

In February 2025, the Israeli Government also said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would retain a presence at five sites in southern Lebanon. In the 2026 conflict, the IDF has expanded its area of control and said that it “will not withdraw […] and expose our citizens to Hezbollah’s attacks”.

Humanitarian situation in 2026

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing Lebanese government data, reports at least 4,346 people in Lebanon had been killed from the beginning of hostilities on 2 March 2026 to 17 August 2026. The data does not differentiate between fighters and civilian casualties. At their peak, around 1.2 million people in Lebanon were registered as internally displaced (around 18% of the population). Around 860,000 have returned home.

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

Since April 2026, the US has led negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli Governments on ending the conflict. These are the highest-level government-to-government talks since 1993. Hezbollah is not participating in the talks, and the Lebanese Government does not control the group.

Initial agreements, April to June 2026

The two governments reached a series of agreements from 16 April onwards, though these did not fully end the fighting. That of 3 June said a 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 June 2026 memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran had also included a provision for an end to the conflict on “all fronts”, including Lebanon. At the time, Iran said it would shut the Strait of Hormuz until that ceasefire held. But, Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, said that the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire talks are “independent” from the US/Iran ones.

Trilateral framework agreed in June 2026

On 26 June, the three negotiating parties (US, Lebanon and Israel) reached a framework agreement. Among its provisions are the phased disarmament of Hezbollah and withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. It also proposes two “pilot zones”, where the LAF will assume security responsibility from the IDF. The disarming and verification process has not been published.

The Lebanese Government, whose objectives include Israeli withdrawal and LAF deployment throughout Lebanon, said the agreement was a “first step”. It has warned that acting against Hezbollah will carry a “high cost” and the group cannot be solely dealt with militarily.

The Israeli Government, whose objectives include ensuring security for citizens in northern Israel, says the framework is “performance-based”, and its troops will remain in southern Lebanon so long as Hezbollah remains a threat.

Hezbollah and the allied Amal movement have opposed the framework and say it is “impossible” to implement.

Progress on implementing the trilateral framework

Implementation has been limited and the next round of talks are scheduled for October. Hezbollah continues to reject disarmament. In July, the LAF had said continued IDF attacks had “obstructed” its efforts to deploy to new areas. While the first pilot zone was launched in July, the second has not yet begun to be implemented. No further zones have been announced.

UK Government response in 2026

The UK Government has backed the ceasefire talks in 2026, called for Hezbollah to disarm, and criticised Israeli military action in June as a “disproportionate escalation”. The government has called for the “swift implementation” of UNSC Resolution 1701 and said on 1 June that the actions of both Israel and Hezbollah had been “underm[ing]” progress on talks.

The UK has backed the June 2026 agreements to end the fighting. In 2026/27, it plans £30.5 million of bilateral aid to Lebanon, down from £41.5 million in 2025/26. It is also committing new funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Update long

October 2026: Updated with details of trilateral framework reached in June, humanitarian situation, violence since June and UK Government response.