Israel attacks and Hezbollah fire mortars into Lebanon to cease fire

Deadly Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah mortar attacks have fueled fears that the ceasefire in Lebanon may be over.

Ten people were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday night, the health ministry said, after Israel carried out its biggest strikes since the two sides agreed last week to end the 13-month conflict.

The Israeli military said it had hit Hezbollah fighters, explosives and infrastructure and urged Lebanese authorities to prevent what it called the group’s “counterinsurgency activity”.

Hezbollah earlier fired two shots at an Israeli military base in the disputed border area, saying it was a warning against what it saw as “repeated violations” by Israel. No injuries were reported.

The US, which, along with France, violated the agreement and is monitoring the implementation of the law, said the ceasefire had “mainly” held despite the violence.

Under the deal, Hezbollah was given 60 days to end its armed presence between the Blue Line – the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel – and the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) to the north.

Israeli troops must withdraw from the area at the same time, while Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers will be deployed there.

The conflict began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in support of the Palestinians in Gaza the day after a deadly attack by its ally Hamas in southern Israel.

Israel launched an intense air campaign and ground attacks against the Iran-backed group in late September, saying it wanted to ensure the safe return of 60,000 northern Israeli citizens displaced by rocket attacks.

Lebanese authorities say more than 3,960 people were killed during the fighting, most of them civilians, and another 1 million were displaced from areas where Hezbollah is strong.

Israeli authorities say there are more than 80 Israeli soldiers and 47 civilians.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes carried out strikes in at least 11 areas in southern Lebanon on Monday night.

They include the town of Haris, where the Ministry of Health said six people died and two were injured.

Four other people were killed and one injured in the town of Tallousseh, according to the ministry.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it “struck Hezbollah terrorists, dozens of operatives and terrorist infrastructure throughout Lebanon”.

It also claimed to have hit a Hezbollah launcher in Berghoz that was used to detonate two instruments in the disputed area of ​​Mount Dov/Shebaa Farms in the Golan Heights. The projectiles fell in the open and no one was injured.

“Hezbollah’s launch tonight means a violation of the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” it warned.

“The State of Israel demands that the parties involved in Lebanon fulfill their obligations and prevent the brutal actions of Hezbollah on the territory of Lebanon.”

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that “they are determined to continue to enforce the ceasefire and will respond to all violations by Hezbollah – small and large”.

Hezbollah confirmed it carried out the mortar attack, saying it was a “defensive and warning response” to what it described as “repeated violations by the Israeli enemy of the ceasefire”.

It said they included shooting at civilians and bombing planes, as well as violations of Lebanese airspace by Israeli planes.

Earlier on Monday, Lebanese authorities said two people were killed in Israeli strikes in the south of the country.

The Ministry of Health said that one person died in Marjaoun, where it was reported that a motorcycle was targeted, while the security forces of the State of Lebanon said that a drone strike killed one of the workers who were on duty in Nabatieh.

The Lebanese army also said that a soldier was injured when the plane was heading near the northeastern city of Hermel, in the Bekaa Valley.

The Israeli military said it “operated in southern Lebanon in response to several actions by Hezbollah in Lebanon that pose a threat to the people of Israel, violating the understanding between Israel and Lebanon”.

“We are aware of reports about a Lebanese army soldier who was injured in one of the strikes and the incident is being investigated,” it added.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who helped negotiate the deal, said: “The barbaric actions by the Israeli army… represent a clear violation of the terms of the ceasefire.”

He added that the Lebanese authorities have asked the committee created to monitor the strengthening of the ceasefire – which includes the US, France, Israel, Lebanon and the UN peacekeeping force (Unifl) – to announce “where it stands regarding the ongoing violations… 54 violations”.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, in a phone call that “all sides need to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon”, the Foreign Ministry said.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan also reported that US envoy Amos Hochstein warned Israel of alleged violations.

In a video posted online, Saar said: “We are hearing allegations that Israel is violating the ceasefire agreements in Lebanon. On the contrary!”

He warned that Israel will take action when armed Hezbollah fighters are identified south of the Litani river or try to disarm them.

“Their presence south of the Litani River is a fundamental violation of understanding,” he said. “They should move north as soon as possible.”

“I want to emphasize – Israel is committed to the successful implementation of the ceasefire, but we will not accept a return to the status quo. [before the conflict].”

US officials said the ceasefire had been largely successful, but “there is more work to be done.”

“We have moved on from a few decades [Israeli] it hits once a day maybe twice a day,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “We will continue to try and see what we can do to get to zero.”