BEIRUT. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have flared once again as both sides accuse each other of violating a ceasefire intended to end over a year of intense fighting. On Thursday, the Israeli military reported that its air force had struck a Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon, which it claimed was used to store mid-range rockets. This strike came after both parties accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, which had just gone into effect on Wednesday.
Israel’s military claimed to have fired on several vehicles arriving in southern Lebanon, calling them “suspects” and alleging this movement violated the truce with the Iran-backed Hezbollah. “We detected suspicious activities that posed a threat and breached the conditions of the ceasefire agreement,” Israel’s Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said in a statement, adding, “Any deviation from this agreement will be enforced with fire.”
Hezbollah, on the other hand, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. In a statement, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said, “The Israeli enemy is attacking those returning to the border villages.” Fadlallah went on to accuse Israel of “violations today, even in this form.”
The Lebanese army echoed these accusations, claiming Israel had violated the ceasefire multiple times on Wednesday and Thursday. The continuing exchange of accusations underscores the fragile nature of the truce, which the United States and France brokered in hopes of bringing a lasting halt to the fighting. The ceasefire is set to last for 60 days, aiming to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Thursday’s Israeli airstrike marked the first military action since the ceasefire began on Wednesday morning. Lebanese security sources and Al Jadeed broadcaster reported that the airstrike targeted an area near Baysariyah, just north of the Litani River.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates the dismantling of unauthorized military facilities south of the Litani River but does not specifically address military facilities located north of the river. Meanwhile, earlier Israeli tank fire had struck five towns and agricultural fields in southern Lebanon, resulting in at least two injuries, according to Lebanese security sources and state media. These areas are within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of the Blue Line, the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel, which Israel has declared a no-go zone, even after the truce was announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized his country’s readiness to escalate the conflict if the ceasefire is breached. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu said, “We are enforcing powerfully. But if needed, I gave a directive to the IDF—be prepared in case there is a violation of the framework of the ceasefire, for an intense war.”
Meanwhile, families displaced by the conflict in southern Lebanon have been attempting to return to their homes and assess damage to their properties. However, Israeli troops remain stationed in towns along the border, and surveillance drones were heard flying over parts of southern Lebanon. In addition, Israel renewed a curfew for southern Lebanon residents south of the Litani River, restricting their movement between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The volatile situation continues to challenge the fragile ceasefire, and it remains to be seen whether both parties can adhere to the terms in the coming days.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
