Israel strikes Lebanon as Hezbollah targets military post
On Monday evening, Israel reported that it had targeted locations in Lebanon, following its pledge to retaliate for a Hezbollah assault on an Israeli military post. Both sides accused each other of breaching last week’s ceasefire agreement.
Israeli airstrikes on two southern Lebanese villages killed at least nine people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it had targeted Hezbollah sites and infrastructure across Lebanon, while reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire.
Hezbollah claimed that its actions were in response to Israeli “violations,” describing its mortar strike as a “defensive warning” aimed at an Israeli army position in a disputed area occupied by Israel.
Israel reported no injuries from the Hezbollah mortar fire on the Mount Dov area, also known as Shebaa Farms, a contested region along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Hezbollah attack as “a severe violation of the ceasefire” and vowed a “forceful” response. He had previously warned that Israel would strike if Hezbollah breached the ceasefire terms.
Monday’s clashes highlight the fragility of the recent truce, which was brokered to end 13 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Last week, the US and France said the agreement would “cease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations operating from Lebanon”.
Hezbollah has been given 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon while Israeli forces must withdraw from the area over the same period.
