Hezbollah Claims First Attack on Israeli Position Since Truce

AFP/APP

Beirut, Lebanon: Hezbollah on Monday claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli position, marking its first since the fragile ceasefire in the war between Lebanon and Israel came into effect last week.

The ceasefire, which began on Wednesday, aims to halt a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in Lebanon and caused mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel. While the ceasefire had largely reduced hostilities, Israel has carried out strikes on targets it claims were violating the truce.

Earlier on Monday, Lebanon accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement, while Israel countered, asserting that it was upholding the truce by responding to Hezbollah’s violations.

The fighting escalated after Israel shifted its focus from Gaza to Lebanon in September, aiming to secure its northern border from Hezbollah attacks. This move dealt significant blows to the Iran-backed Shiite Muslim group.

Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who helped mediate the ceasefire on behalf of Hezbollah, called Israeli actions a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire terms.

On Monday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli position in Kfar Shouba, a disputed area on the Lebanon-Israel border. The Israeli army reported that Hezbollah launched two projectiles toward Har Dov, Israel’s term for the disputed Shebaa Farms area.

Calls for Ceasefire Respect

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged all parties to respect the ceasefire during a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who rejected accusations of Israel violating the agreement.

Saar emphasized that Israel was merely enforcing the truce in response to Hezbollah’s violations, including attempts to move weapons into southern Lebanon and its presence south of the Litani River, which violates the ceasefire agreement.

Under the truce, Hezbollah is required to withdraw from areas south of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure. The Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers are tasked with deploying in southern Lebanon as Israel gradually withdraws over a 60-day period.

A monitoring committee, involving France, UN peacekeepers, Israel, Lebanon, and chaired by the United States, is overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire. Speaker Berri called for immediate action, citing more than 54 breaches of the agreement.

Ongoing Strikes and Violations

On Monday, Israel continued airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, claiming they were aimed at preventing threats to Israeli civilians. The strikes resulted in casualties: one person was killed by an Israeli drone strike in Marjayoun in southern Lebanon, while a Lebanese soldier was wounded by a drone in the Hermel region.

Israel stated that its strikes were in response to ongoing violations by Hezbollah and posed a threat to Israeli civilians. In retaliation, the Israeli military struck Hezbollah military vehicles near a missile manufacturing site in the Bekaa Valley and terrorist infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border.

The situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.