Israel Strikes Lebanon in Response to Hezbollah Attack: Tensions Escalate

On Monday, Israel launched air strikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah claimed to have attacked an Israeli position. This was the first such incident since a fragile ceasefire began last week to end ongoing fighting that has caused many deaths and forced people to leave their homes.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have been accused of breaking the ceasefire, which started on Wednesday to calm the violence that had affected people on both sides of the border. Israel believes Hezbollah violated the truce and has acted in response.

Hezbollah reported that it targeted an Israeli post near the contested area of Kfar Shouba. Israel’s military confirmed that Hezbollah fired projectiles at one of its positions at Har Dov, also known as the Shebaa Farms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Hezbollah’s actions as a “serious violation” and promised a strong response. Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment, stating that Israel’s military would take strong action. Soon after, Israel announced it was targeting places in Lebanon linked to Hezbollah.

In Lebanon, the speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire. He stated that Israel’s actions are a clear violation of the agreement.

In September, fighting escalated again when Israel shifted its focus from Gaza to Lebanon due to ongoing attacks from Hezbollah. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged all sides to respect the ceasefire during a conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Saar dismissed the accusations against Israel, saying they were acting only in response to Hezbollah’s violations.

According to the deal, Hezbollah must pull back its fighters from areas south of the Litani river, and both Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be present there as Israel withdraws over the next two months.

A committee made up of representatives from France, the UN, Israel, Lebanon, and the US is responsible for monitoring this agreement and addressing any violations. Berri criticized the committee for not acting on the more than 54 violations he claimed had occurred, and urged them to ensure Israel stops its actions in areas it occupies.

Despite the violence, the United States believes the ceasefire is still in place and is monitoring any potential violations. Recently, an Israeli strike reportedly killed one person in southern Lebanon, and an Israeli drone injured a Lebanese soldier in the east. The situation is tense as both sides continue to blame each other for the rising violence.