Fragile ceasefire violations between Israel and Hezbollah have reignited tensions, with Israel launching deadly strikes in Lebanon. Two people, including a State Security officer, have been killed in recent attacks. In response, Hezbollah retaliated, warning that ongoing violations could destabilize the already tenuous truce.
Israeli Strikes and Hezbollah’s Retaliation
Israel’s recent airstrikes in Lebanon have intensified, despite the ceasefire agreement reached last week. On Monday, a Lebanese State Security officer, Mahdi Khreis, was killed by an Israeli rocket in the southern district of Nabatieh. Lebanon condemned the attack as a blatant ceasefire violation and a dangerous escalation. Hours later, Hezbollah launched a counterattack on an Israeli military base in Kfar Chouba, citing “repeated Israeli violations” of the fragile ceasefire.
Read: Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army Unite to Enforce Ceasefire
Hezbollah stated that its response was a defensive warning after diplomatic efforts to stop the breaches failed. The group accused Israel of conducting air raids, targeting civilians, and deploying drones across Lebanese airspace, including over Beirut.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
In Marjayoun, Israeli bombardment killed another civilian, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. A drone strike in northeastern Lebanon also injured a Lebanese soldier. These incidents have intensified fears that the fragile ceasefire could collapse, plunging the region back into full-scale conflict.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S. and France, aims to end hostilities and ensure Israel’s military withdrawal from Lebanon within 60 days. Hezbollah agreed to move its forces north of the Litani River while the Lebanese army takes control of southern Lebanon. Despite these terms, Israel continues its near-daily attacks, arguing they are necessary to “enforce” the truce, though the agreement strictly prohibits all military actions.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key negotiator in the ceasefire talks, accused Israel of violating the truce over 54 times. He highlighted air raids, home demolitions, and civilian attacks near the border as clear breaches, urging immediate international intervention to uphold the agreement.
Rising Regional Tensions
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, signaled readiness for further escalation, warning of a “harsh response” to Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes. He reiterated that Israel would act against any ceasefire violation. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to fire rockets into northern and central Israel, asserting that it inflicted heavy losses on Israeli troops.
Despite the hostilities, the U.S. remains confident in the ceasefire’s broader success. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that the agreement has significantly reduced daily casualties and pledged ongoing efforts to monitor and address violations.
A Volatile Path Forward
The situation remains precarious. As hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese return to their homes, hopes for lasting peace are overshadowed by renewed violence. Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem noted that Hezbollah’s latest actions signal a firm stance against further violations, warning that unchecked aggression could spiral into chaos.
Both sides continue to test the limits of the ceasefire, leaving the region on edge. The fragile ceasefire holds for now, but the path forward remains fraught with uncertainty.
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