Israel and Lebanon are once again trading accusations of ceasefire violations after a fresh series of attacks. The Israeli military reported launching an airstrike on a Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
This strike marked the first since a ceasefire agreement came into effect on Wednesday morning. Lebanese sources and media reported that the attack occurred near Baysariyah, north of the Litani River.
The Israeli military claimed the airstrike was a response to Hezbollah's alleged violations of the ceasefire in multiple areas of Lebanon. Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire multiple times on Wednesday and Thursday. This ongoing exchange underscores the fragility of the truce brokered by international efforts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning following the airstrike, instructing the military to remain prepared for a potential escalation should the ceasefire collapse. His comments reflect the tense atmosphere despite the temporary cessation of hostilities.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed optimism about the ceasefire in a social media post. He revealed that both Lebanon and Israel had accepted a U.S.-led proposal to end the conflict.
Biden emphasized the significance of the agreement in bringing relief after weeks of intense fighting.
The recent clashes between Israel and Lebanon trace back to October of the previous year, when Hezbollah launched an attack on Israeli-controlled territory. This act was framed as solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza, further complicating an already volatile regional dynamic.
The violence escalated in mid-September when Israel responded with a significant military offensive against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, had been carrying out rocket strikes into Israeli territory as part of its support for Hamas, which had led a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
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