General updates

The war has continued to escalate since early March 2026, with increasingly intense and widespread military operations affecting civilian areas across Lebanon. On 8 April 2026, Beirut and surrounding areas were hit by large-scale Israeli airstrikes that resulted in approximately 300 deaths and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, marking one of the deadliest escalations of the conflict. The strikes affected residential neighbourhoods and urban areas, causing mass civilian casualties and displacement.

On 14 April 2026, Lebanon and Israel took a significant diplomatic step by agreeing, during U.S.-mediated talks in Washington, to open direct negotiations for the first time in decades. The meeting, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, brought together the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States and marked a breakthrough attempt to establish a structured dialogue between the two countries, which remain formally in a state of conflict. Both sides reportedly agreed in principle to continue negotiations at a later stage, with discussions expected to focus on security arrangements and the situation along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon entered into force on 16 April 2026, marking a temporary halt to hostilities and creating a framework for renewed diplomatic engagement between the two sides after a period of escalating cross-border violence. Initially established as a short-term truce, the agreement aimed to reduce tensions along the border and open space for negotiations on security arrangements and related issues. In May 2026, following further U.S.-mediated discussions, the ceasefire was extended by an additional 45 days, reflecting continued efforts to stabilise the situation and prevent a return to full-scale confrontation, although reports indicated that the truce remained fragile with violations on the ground, especially in South Lebanon.

Expression

Journalists continue to be targeted and exposed to extreme risks as a result of the ongoing war. On 8 April 2026, two Lebanese journalists, Ghada Dayekh and Suzan Khalil, were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. Dayekh, who worked with Sawt Al-Farah radio, died after a strike hit the building where she was staying in southern Lebanon, while Khalil, a reporter and presenter affiliated with Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour radio, was killed in another attack.

In response to similar incidents, United Nations human rights experts called for an independent international investigation into Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, expressing serious concern over reported attacks affecting civilians, including media workers. They stressed that journalists are protected under international humanitarian law and warned that repeated incidents of this nature raise issues of accountability and potential violations, urging states and relevant authorities to ensure evidence preservation and pursue justice through international mechanisms.

In the same period, on 17 April 2026 in Debbine (Marjayoun district, southern Lebanon), four journalists were physically assaulted while covering the return of civilians and documenting war-related destruction following the entry into force of a ceasefire. According to multiple reports, they were beaten by a group of men, insulted and accused of treason, and had their vehicles and equipment damaged. A few days later, another incident involving a journalist was reported in southern Lebanon.

On 22 April 2026, Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed in southern Lebanon while covering the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes. She had initially been reporting near a site targeted by a strike when she sought shelter in a nearby house, which was subsequently hit, trapping her under the rubble. Another journalist present at the scene was seriously injured. Rescue teams were unable to reach Khalil immediately due to continued strikes in the area, delaying recovery efforts. 

Peaceful Assembly

Demonstrations by Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters in Beirut escalated tensions in the capital, prompting a warning from the Lebanese army on 11 April 2026. The statement followed several days of protests in central Beirut, including areas such as Riad al-Solh Square, where crowds gathered to oppose the government’s participation in U.S.-mediated negotiations with Israel in Washington. The demonstrations involved road blockages and large gatherings in key districts, raising concerns over public order and political stability. While reaffirming the right to peaceful assembly, the army stressed the need to preserve civil peace and avoid actions that could lead to internal unrest in an already highly volatile context.

During mid-May 2026, public mobilisations took place in response to parliamentary discussions on a draft general amnesty law. Following the approval of an amended version by parliamentary committees on 19 May, demonstrations and sit-ins were reported in several regions, including Tripoli, Akkar, Arsal, and Khaldé in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The protests were mainly organised by families of detainees, who rejected the proposed text, arguing that it was unfair and discriminatory due to the exclusion of certain categories of prisoners from the amnesty. The ensuing tensions contributed to the postponement of the parliamentary session scheduled to vote on the draft, reflecting ongoing political divisions surrounding the issue.