The Hezbollah group launched an attack on an Israeli military position in the Kfarchouba hills, calling it a “preliminary warning and defensive response” to “repeated violations” of the ceasefire by Israel. Shortly afterward, Israeli warplanes bombed the outskirts of the town of Yaroun and the Burghaz area in southern Lebanon.
Since the ceasefire took effect last week on November 27th, Israel has carried out more than twenty attacks on Lebanese territory, resulting in casualties and injuries. Israel claims these strikes are responses to breaches of the agreement and to movement near a no-entry zone it unilaterally established on territory it occupies in southern Lebanon.
However, this marks the first time Hezbollah has returned fire, raising doubts about whether the fragile ceasefire will hold.
Hezbollah cited the “continued violation of Lebanese airspace by hostile Israeli aircraft, even over the capital, Beirut” as justification for its attack yesterday. It also blamed the “relevant authorities” for failing to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanese soil despite the ceasefire.
The Lebanese state media reports that the Yaroun area was later targeted again by Israeli strikes, along with attacks on the towns of Shebaa, Beit Lif, and Talloussa, resulting in injuries.
Meanwhile, the United States (U.S.) Pentagon stated that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains in effect.
“Generally speaking, our assessment is that, despite some incidents we are observing, the ceasefire remains in place,” said Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would “respond” to Hezbollah’s firing on Israeli soldiers.
“Hezbollah’s attack on Mount Dov constitutes a serious violation of the ceasefire, and Israel will respond decisively. We are determined to uphold the ceasefire and will respond to any breach by Hezbollah– whether minor or major,” Netanyahu warned in a post on Platform X.
Earlier, the Lebanese parliament speaker accused Israel of 54 violations of the agreement, which Israel denied.
The Israeli military also issued an order barring residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon from returning to their homes, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
