Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on X that the fatal crash was “utterly tragic” and that he was thinking of “the families, friends and loved ones of the three members of the Royal Navy who sadly lost their lives”, while Defence Secretary John Healey said he was “devastated by the loss of three service personnel”.

A no-holds-barred bout of partisan redistricting has been won by Republicans. Now it’s up to voters to decide whether it matters for control of Congress.

Republicans could net about 10 additional U.S. House seats in the November elections if redrawn voting districts perform as they were intended. The question is whether that’s enough for the GOP to hold on to a majority in the chamber, where Democrats need to gain only a few seats to take control.

Political trends and historic patterns favor Democrats. President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are negative. And the incumbent’s party has lost House seats in every midterm election over the past two decades.

This election season already has been unusual. Voting districts typically are redrawn only after a census at the start of each decade. But Trump urged Republicans last summer to redraw congressional districts to their advantage to try to prevent losses in the 2026 midterms.

Since then, Republicans think they could win as many as 16 additional seats from new House maps enacted in eight states — Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. Democrats, whose counterattack faced several setbacks, think they could win up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah.

Nearly 145 million people — about two of every five U.S. residents — live in states with new congressional districts for this election.

Yet the mid-decade redistricting battle didn’t go as far as it could have.

Republicans in Kansas and Democrats in Illinois both rebuffed party pushes to take up redistricting. In Republican-led Indiana and South Carolina and Democratic-led Maryland, new congressional districts passed the state House but ultimately died in the state Senate. The Virginia Supreme Court invalidated new voter-approved districts that could have helped Democrats win up to four additional seats. And the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a lower court order that could have helped Democrats gain a congressional seat in New York.

Here’s a look at the states with new U.S. House maps:

Texas

Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised House map into law last August that could help Republicans win five additional seats. Democrats think they could still win some of those seats.

Missouri

Current map: two Democrats, six Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat by reshaping a Democratic-held district based in Kansas City. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has until Aug. 4 — the date of Missouri’s primaries — to decide whether to reject an initiative petition seeking a statewide vote on the map.

North Carolina

Current map: four Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave final approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Ohio

Current map: five Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats. Democrats think they could still win those seats.

California

Current map: 43 Democrats, nine Republicans

New map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win five additional seats.

Utah

Current map: no Democrats, four Republicans

New map: A judge in November imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat in the Salt Lake City area.

Florida

Current map: eight Democrats, 20 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed revised House districts in May that improve the GOP’s chances of winning four additional seats. Legal challenges are pending.

Tennessee

Current map: one Democrat, eight Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed new House districts in May that improve the GOP’s chances of winning an additional seat by carving up the lone Democratic-held seat, a majority-Black district based in Memphis. Legal challenges are pending.

Louisiana

Current map: two Democrats, four Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed off on new House districts in May that improve Republican chances of winning an additional seat by eliminating a majority-Black district held by a Democrat that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down as an illegal racial gerrymander.

Alabama

Current map: two Democrats, five Republicans

New map: The U.S. Supreme Court in June allowed the state to use a congressional map approved by Republican state lawmakers that improves the GOP’s chances of winning an additional seat by reshaping a Democratic-held district that has a large number of Black voters.

Vickrum Digwa’s grandmother speaks out after he was jailed for life for the murder of student Henry Nowak in a case that sparked national outrage and protests across Southampton

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The grandmother of convicted killer Vickrum Digwa has said the case has “destroyed two families” as she broke her silence for the first time about the murder of student Henry Nowak.

Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday after repeatedly stabbing Henry before dishonestly telling police that he had been the victim of a racist attack. The case prompted major protests in Southampton, some of which descended into violence.

Now his grandmother, Bimla Kaur, 75, has disclosed that the family are living in fear of retaliation, with some relatives driven into hiding following the disorder.

She also stood up for Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, who stands accused of assisting in concealing the weapon used in the killing, saying she acted as “any mum would do”.

Speaking from her Southampton home, Mrs Kaur said: “This whole case has destroyed two families: Henry’s and mine.

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“We are in a hard situation because we still have to support him [Digwa] but at the same time our hearts are broken and I’m very sorry for what’s happened.”

Describing her grandson as a “difficult boy”, Mrs Kaur told the Daily Mail the family had been left shattered but maintained his actions contradicted their beliefs.

Digwa is understood to have been part of the Nihang Sikh order, an ancient martial tradition renowned for its use of swords and other weapons in religious practice. Mrs Kaur said: “These weapons are not meant to be used on the innocent, so something has gone wrong. He’s done a very bad thing – there’s no argument over that.”

She went on to say that while she takes great pride in the family’s Sikh heritage, including their ties to the Nihang order, Digwa had betrayed that tradition.

The Nihangs are a historic Sikh martial order dating back centuries, known for their distinctive blue robes and traditional weaponry, and for practising Gatka, a form of armed combat training.

Digwa was regularly seen taking part in Gatka demonstrations and teaching Sikh youngsters at a local gurdwara near his home in Southampton.

Mrs Kaur said: “Most of the men in this family are Nihangs and so is Vickrum. As a Nihang, Vickrum was devoted to that way of life. It meant everything to him.

“It’s an important part of our faith and it’s something that I’m proud of.”

Yet she was keen to reiterate: “But these weapons are not meant to be used on the innocent.”

Mrs Kaur revealed that Digwa’s father Moga Singh and brother Gurpreet Singh have been forced into hiding after their home was targeted in the wake of the conviction.

She said: “It’s not safe for them to be in their home because it was targeted the other night and it’s only a matter of time before it is attacked again.

“Both Moga and Gurpreet are with relatives in a safe place and I’m not sure if they’ll ever return.”

She further disclosed that other members of the wider family were also living in fear of further attacks. “We’re all living in fear because we’ve had threats and are worried that we might also get attacked. But we’ve been in this city a long time and we don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 52, is currently in custody awaiting sentencing for assisting an offender after she allegedly helped remove the weapon from the scene.

Mrs Kaur came to her defence, saying: “I’ve been to see her in prison and she’s doing the best she can. She only did what any mother would have done, which is to protect her child.

“And now she’s going to be punished for this.”

She went on to add: “Kiran has done a good job raising those two boys and was very supportive of them becoming Nihangs. It’s a huge honour for our family.”

Digwa was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years after Judge William Mousley KC declared that he had brought shame upon his family and religion.

The court was told that Digwa was “weapons obsessed” and had been carrying multiple blades, including illegal weapons, alongside religious ceremonial items permitted under UK law.

His father Moga Singh and brother Gurpreet Singh have also faced charges in connection with possession of numerous weapons, including knives, a baton, knuckledusters and swords.

A business linked to the family in Southampton has reportedly shut its doors temporarily in the wake of the trial’s conclusion.

Parts of the Sikh community have disassociated themselves from Digwa, branding him an “imposter” who exploited religious tradition.

One community member said: “Digwa had a really bad temper and thought he could get away with anything. A lot of people here didn’t like him.”

Another added: “He disgraced us all.”

Reacting to the report, Karen Newman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “Our public services must set the standard for confronting anti-Jewish hatred and discrimination, and we must ensure the NHS, one of our proudest national institutions, is safe and welcoming for every staff member or service user, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

TLB Care Ltd wants to turn a house on Durham Road in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, into a small home for vulnerable young people.

The property, currently a family house, would become a residential children’s home for up to two children aged about 10 to 17 with emotional and behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities or social, emotional and mental health needs.

Planning documents say there would be no building work to change how the house looks from the street.

The home would be run under Ofsted rules, with staff on site around the clock.

The applicant says it would feel like an ordinary family home, with children going to school, sharing meals and taking part in everyday activities.

The plans were scaled back after early talks with Durham County Council. An earlier idea for three or four children was reduced to two following concerns about the impact on neighbours and the wider area.

A noise and behaviour plan promises close supervision, longer staff shifts to cut traffic and clear steps for handling complaints from neighbours.

The applicant says the scheme would provide much‑needed specialist care places for young people in County Durham.

Plans are with Durham County Council, and a decision is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

The well-known pub was built back in 1901

The future of one of West Belfast’s best-known bars remains uncertain as it has gone up for sale.

The Rock Bar, located at 491-493 Falls Road, was built back in 1901 by Frank O’Neill and has survived significant conflict including a rocket attack during The Troubles. The traditional pub has many of its original features, including five snugs.

The pub is well-known for having live music five nights a week, including their famous Rebel Sunday event. It is regarded as one of the district’s most historic pubs.

It is located in a Grade B2 listed building, reflecting its architectural and cultural significance. The pub is listed for sale on PropertyPal with “price on application,” while it is also listed on Savills as “New/Sole Agency/Freehold/For Sale” with no indication of sale agreed or completion.

A brochure for the building from Savills describes it as “combining traditional architectural character with modern functionality.”

It adds: “Arranged over two and three storeys, it features an attractive facade, dedicated off-sales area and The Rock Bar, one of the Falls Road’s leading licensed venues.

“The interior includes a well-presented split-level public bar, a spacious first floor lounge with stage and bar servery and additional storage and office accommodation across the upper floors.”

Many people have taken to social media to express sadness at the loss of the much-loved bar, while sharing memories of time spent at the West Belfast venue.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The Thursday letters page is cautiously optimistic about Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis, as a reader is worried about the sequel to 007 First Light.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Expected response
I think I agree with your summary of the State of Play, in that it was solid, didn’t do anything wrong, and yet I wasn’t excited by it at all. The problem is, and I think you hinted at it, is that while I’ll probably even buy Wolverine and God Of War Laufey, I already know what they’ll be and while I’m sure they’ll have unexpected moments they really don’t seem to be doing anything we haven’t seen before.

It’s the problem with sequels and using existing IP and while I understand it, and even encourage it when it comes to something I really like, they almost seem like wasted games, in terms of not moving anything forward.

I’m sure they’ll rake in the money, because tried and tested is what sells, but I feel Xbox has an opportunity here, to have a much more surprising showcase, with some games that aren’t just the obvious go-tos. They’ll probably miss the open goal though, they usually do.
Gazza

Logan Drake
I’m getting some serious Uncharted vibes from Marvel’s Wolverine. The whole thing with the chase on the bike reminds me of the Madagascar chase from Uncharted 4. That was probably the best bit in the entire game, so you can’t blame them for trying to copy it, but it doesn’t give me much hope that Wolverine is going to be very original.

Especially when they had that bit where he’s looking down at the soldiers below and he’s doing some simple stealthing about (like Batman: Arkham Asylum, again). I just don’t know what’s going to be special about the game other than its production values. But then I suppose Wolverine doesn’t really have particularly interesting powers from a video game perspective.

He’s just got short daggers in his hands really, and there’s probably only so much he can do with that, so I’m not entirely on board yet.
Goldie

Direct cycle
There’s got to be a Nintendo Direct next week. I don’t care how obstinate Nintendo are, you can’t go half a year without announcing a single big game or saying what’s coming out at Christmas. Especially not with a price rise coming up, where you’ve really got to justify why people should be buying the console.

I agree with GC though, in that it’ll be a minimum effort and probably only announce one or two big things, then the rest will be already announced games, DLC, and Switch 2 editions. Then we’ll be right back into wondering if there’s going to be another Nintendo Direct and if there’s a secret Christmas game they haven’t told us about yet.

I get why things are like this now but it’s kind of exhausting and not as much fun as it used to be.
Zeiss

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Modern gaming
I recently purchased 007 First Light for the PlayStation 5. I put the disc in and downloaded what popped up to get everything ready for when I could start to play. I sat down today to begin and there was an update, just seven minutes – so annoying but not too bad. I played through the first tutorial mission. All pretty standard but I was keen to see what was next after all the positive reviews.

The game halted suddenly after the intro music, a pop-up stating ‘content downloading, returning to main menu’. I look in the PlayStation 5 downloads and I have more stuff downloading, three hours worth (yes, I have slow internet where I live but nothing too unusual).

I was quite underwhelmed with the early stages of the game, thinking that it continues the trend with modern triple-A games being mildly interactive unimaginative movies rather than actual games. Add to this the fact that I can’t actually play any more of the game today and I really do think that modern gaming is finally becoming not for me.
Alex

GC: You really should’ve waited until it had finished downloading before starting it, as it’s colouring your view of the game.

Traffic jam
Really looking forward to Onimusha: Way Of The Sword continuing the Capcom quality run, but that last week of September period is an absolute nightmare. All those games coming out at the same time, all trying to stay out of the way of GTA 6… they’re all going to suffer and some of them are going to flop completely.

Nobody has enough time or money to play them all even if they wanted to, so hard choices are going to be made. In this case it doesn’t seem publishers had much choice about what to do, but I hope some of them change dates now that they see how things have shaken out.

It’s Control Resonant I fear the most for. Remedy games just don’t sell and this one isn’t going to either if it’s like the sixth most high profile game of the week.
Grackle

Bubble Raider
So what they’re saying about AI in Tomb Raider is that you can guarantee people are going to find AI stuff in the game, in the first week or so, and then we’ll get the usual apology tweet saying they thought they’d removed it all (aka they were hoping nobody would notice).

I would love to know how much time they think they’re saving by using AI for temporary graphics and then going to all the trouble of removing them (or not) and/or changing them. That sounds like a faff to me and unlikely to save much time, while also generating bad publicity.

What did they do before? Presumably used graphics from older games, which considering Crystal Dynamics has been making Tomb Raider games for decades now they must have plenty of by now. Just use ones from Tomb Raider: Anniversary, which was the first time they did a remake.

I understand that AI can help with programming but we’ll probably never know about that, so you can’t say anything about it, one way or the other.

But in terms of anything else I don’t see how it’s helping at all, other than making the developers look incompetent and heartless. The sooner this ridiculous bubble bursts the better. I’d almost wish NFTs had caught on instead at this point.
Sharkton

Thunderballed
As much as I’ve loved 007 First Light, I have big worries about the sequel. It turns out the reason Amazon, who own the Bond licence, weren’t involved in First Light is that they hadn’t bought it when it started. But now they own it they want to publish any game in the future.

That has me very worried, as IO published First Light and that seems to be one of the main reasons they did it. If Amazon kicks off IO from being the developer that would be an absolute disaster.
Private

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Top two
Being firmly in the camp that believes Returnal was the best PlayStation 5 game by a country mile, I’ve been looking forward to Saros more than any other game in a long while. Now that I’ve completed it, I can say without a doubt: this is easily one of the top two games on the console.

Like many others, I was mildly disappointed at first. The atmospheric, abstract storytelling of Returnal is a bit more prescribed here (though, ironically, many complained that Returnal was too abstract). However, once I got over the fact that it’s different, I came to enjoy it immensely, possibly even more than its predecessor.

The combat, as always with Housemarque, is second to none; for my money, it’s the best shooting in any game ever. The new mechanics, like using your shield to charge up power weapons and parrying red bullet, add brilliant, fun layers to the loop. The guns are as good as ever, with each class possessing its own distinct style and playing completely differently to keep things fresh.

At first, I thought the shotguns were duff, but once you unlock the enhanced melee attack, staggering enemies with a blast and smashing them to pieces becomes extremely satisfying. Personally, my favourites are the Chakrams, reminiscent of the Dreadbound in Returnal with a few twists, which can absolutely melt through enemy health bars. The bows are great fun too.

When you’re in that flow state, juggling standard fire, alt-fire, shields, power weapons, and parries, it perfectly captures the intense bullet hell arcade action of Ikaruga or Housemarque’s older titles, but blown out into a big budget, 3D space. The sheer drama of each fight leaves you breathless, and the boss fights are extremely impressive. It is a non-stop rollercoaster ride; a sci-fi, bullet hell space opera extravaganza.

I also enjoyed the narrative and found myself genuinely looking forward to the cut scenes to unpick what was going on. The endings are great too.

Is it better than Returnal? The combat is absolutely better. And while I preferred Returnal’s atmosphere, I still really invested in this story. Ultimately, the reason I keep playing these games isn’t the plot; it’s the gameplay, and in that regard, Saros just pips it to the post.

Either way, both games are entirely unique. No other titles on the market feel like them, which is incredibly rare in this day and age, and exactly why I love them both so much. Choosing between them is like picking a favourite child. Either way, Housemarque has proven once again that they are the absolute kings of modern arcade action.
Mud

GC: We think you liked the story a bit more than we did but generally, we agree – especially in terms of the combat.

Inbox also-rans
Anyone want a Metal Gear film? Give War Machine a go. Obviously, there’s a lot less history, dialogue and confusing plotting. Best thing is, its runtime is a lot shorter than some Metal Gear cut scenes.
Bobwallett

The announcement trailer for the Tomb Raider remake looks absolutely incredible. I’m in awe! One of my favourite video game franchises. They can’t mess this one up, can they?
Paul C.

GC: Anything is possible.

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New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

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MORE: Games Inbox: Will God Of War Laufey be a good game?

MORE: Games Inbox: Will tonight’s State of Play be a good one?

MORE: Games Inbox: Is this the most important week for gaming in 2026?

Andrew Colley Watson, who goes by Drew Colson, has launched Colson of York based in Bilton-in-Ainsty, east of Wetherby.

Colson of York has completed its first series of amplifiers, The Three Sisters of Ainsty, expected to cost around £825 each.

They are fully analogue 25-watt amplifiers with no valves or digital modelling, meaning the signal comes purely from the instrument using traditional components rather than it being converted into data then processed by software to create the sound.

The Three Sisters of Ainsty, Maria, Charlotte and Emily, the first completed series from Colson of York (Image: Supplied)

Each amplifier has a hand-built hardwood cabinet – built by Drew in very small numbers using Yorkshire sycamore sourced near Ripon then air dried and cured for more than 15 years – and matched to a speaker.

The Three Sisters of Ainsty series includes three one-off analogue amplifiers, named Maria, Charlotte and Emily.

One of the new amplifiers by Colson of York (Image: Supplied)

More than 30 hours of labour is involved in creating the amplifiers, with each having its “own cabinet style, character and voice”, according to Colson.

Drew said the amplifier business follows his decades of experience as a musician.  

He has owned and tested dozens of amplifiers and performs regularly as a gigging musician. Drew also hosts open mic nights and musicians’ jam sessions, which helped when researching amplifiers.

“As a player, I wanted something that worked naturally with pedals, felt alive under my fingers and had a real presence in the room,” he said. “Colson of York brings together guitars, analogue sound, natural materials, science, design and precision, all things that I’m interested in.”

Read next:

Drew added that he chose to make the amplifiers fully analogue as he is “interested in that direct, physical connection between the player, the analogue circuitry, the speaker, the cabinet and the room”.

“In music, digital modelling can be incredibly useful, but for me there’s a difference between listening to a violin, for example, and listening to a recording of a violin. That’s what analogue equipment gives you.”

Drew built his first prototype valve amplifier around two years ago, followed by further valve, digital and analogue experiments.

And after selling his first fully hand-built amplifier in 2025, he decided to open Colson of York this month.

The Three Sisters of Ainsty amplifiers are now available for sale, with the business announcing that future small series, one-off builds and private inquiries will be handled directly through Colson of York.

For more information about Colson of York, visit www.colsonofyork.co.uk

Bernardo Silva bid farewell to the Manchester City faithful against Aston Villa in a game that was Pep Guardiola‘s final match in charge of the club

Bernardo Silva has decided not to make a call on his future until after the World Cup. Silva left the Etihad Stadium after nine trophy-laden years following the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

Reports then emerged last week claiming that he was set to sign for Barcelona on a free transfer having also been offered a deal by Atletico Madrid and Benfica. However, the Portugal international has had a change of heart and will now decide his next move after the World Cup.

“Bernardo will decide after World Cup”, Silva’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is quoted as telling journalist Fabrizio Romano.

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Silva played 460 games during his nine years at City, and he won 15 major trophies with the club, including four-successive Premier League titles between 2021-2024, the treble in 2023 and all four domestic trophies in the 2018-19 season.

The Times last week reported that Silva would like to end his playing career at Benfica, where he came through the academy. However, he believes he can still play at a higher level for another couple of years first.

Opening up on his decision to leave City last month, Silva admitted to Canal 11: “It was a decision I made two years ago, that I would see out my contract and then we would go our separate ways. When I made the decision, I knew I wouldn’t change my mind.

“When I arrived, I never imagined I’d stay for nine years, that’s a long time at a club. The decision to leave was a natural one. It’s my last chance to take on another challenge in my life, to do something different.

“Since I left, my family has been pulling me back. They know that nine years is a long time and, after everything I’ve achieved here, it made sense to do something different.”

Asked if City had tried to convince him to stay even longer, Silva added: “They tried. They kept trying, but they realised my stance wasn’t going to change.

“In the end, they stopped pushing the issue. They gradually realised. And then they started joking that I was leaving but never actually would. They didn’t quite believe it.

“Ruben (Dias) and Matheus (Nunes) knew my decision wouldn’t change. I didn’t make a formal announcement, but I always said I’d see out my contract and then leave.”

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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

When the United States and Israel began their conflict against Iran, the Islamic Republic retaliated – as it has done in the past – by launching missile strikes against Israel as well as US military basis in the region. In addition, Iran targeted military and civilian locations across several Arab Gulf states.

Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, drew the country into the war on March 2 by responding to the US-Israeli attack on Iran with widespread rocket attacks on northern Israel. In turn, Israel bombarded Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has its power base, as well as sending troops across the border into southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s prime minister, Nawaf Salam, reacted swiftly. He banned Hezbollah’s military wing calling its activities “illegal” and ordering the Lebanese security forces to “prevent any attacks originating from Lebanese territory”. Hezbollah ignored his call and continued to pound northern Israel, while engaging with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the ground.

Both sides – the Israeli government and Hezbollah – have framed the use of military force as necessary to protect their respective communities. This is nothing new. When referring to Hezbollah during his speech at the 2024 annual gathering of the United Nations general assembly, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly made this link. “Israel has every right to remove this threat,” he declared, “and return our citizens to their homes safely, and that is exactly what we are doing”.

Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah (since assassinated in an Israeli strike on Beirut in September 2024) made a similar case of using military force to defend communities across Lebanon earlier that same year. After Israel assassinated Hamas’ deputy political leader, Salah Al-Arouri, in Beirut, in January that year he said that “we cannot keep silent about a violation of this seriousness because this means that all of our people will be exposed. All of our cities, villages, and public figures will be exposed.”

Two years on, both sides continue to justify the use of military force to defend their respective communities. But this claim does not bear scrutiny. As of June 2026, communities on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border remain highly insecure. This is despite the supposed US-brokered ceasefire between the two sides declared by Donald Trump on April 7.

Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel have resulted in civilian and military casualties as well as severe disruption to everyday life. The situation on the Lebanese side of the border is worse. Since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the war between the US and Israel on the one side, and Iran on the other, the IDF has significantly expanded its ground offensive, reportedly resulting in more than 3,000 people killed and more than 1 million displaced.

Nevertheless, Nasrallah’s replacement as Hezbollah secretary general, Naim Qassem, has continued his predecessor’s aggressive line against Israel. Upon the onset of the current hostilities he pledged, on March 5, to “continue the fight against Israel”. In addition, he has rejected the Lebanese government’s order to refrain from attacks on Israel and refused to disarm.

In a statement on May 25 to mark Resistance and Liberation Day, the Lebanese holiday marking the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, Qassem said disarmament would destroy Lebanon’s “defensive capability and the capability of the resistance and its people, as a prelude to extermination”. He added: “Disarmament is extermination, and this is something we cannot accept.”

Ordinary lives under threat

Having clearly learned a lesson from Ukraine’s defence against Russia, Hezbollah has taken to using fibre-optic drones as their main weapon. Apart from the military and civilian casualties inflicted by these attacks, they severely threaten everyday life across the north of Israel, forcing workplaces and businesses to close and disrupting schools.

Overwhelmed and insecure, residents in northern Israel have described themselves as becoming “invisible” in the eyes of the Israeli government. A spokesperson for Lobby 1701, a northern Israel residents’ group named after UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the last Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and was supposed to ensure the demilitarisation of the region, told Israeli news outlet Ynet Global that people in northern Israel felt abandoned by their government: “Why does no one care even a little when a drone hits a children’s bus stop in Shomera, compared with if that same drone had, God forbid, hit a children’s bus stop in Tel Aviv?”

Hezbollah’s pledge to “defend” its communities through its military operations have clearly utterly failed and a majority of Lebanese people favour the group disarming. One Lebanese politician from a party which opposes Hezbollah, told journalists: “I have never seen a so-called resistance movement that is supposed to liberate the country from the occupier, do everything it can to give the occupier a pretext to send even more troops and create a buffer zone. If they want to commit suicide, let them go to their master in Tehran, far from Lebanon.”

Captives of conflict

Thus, ordinary Israelis and Lebanese remain captive to the false promises of their leaders. The continued reliance on military force has brought neither side greater security. Instead, it has deepened their vulnerability.

The only sustainable path out of this deadly cycle is a diplomatic and political settlement along the lines laid down in resolution 1701 – but with stronger security guarantees – which people on both sides of the border need and deserve.

Yet the government of Israel and Hezbollah’s leadership remain committed to rigid ideologies and political calculations – domestic and international – that prevent such an agreement. Meanwhile, their communities continue to bear the cost.