Israel Launches Attacks on Southern Lebanon; Lebanon's Prime Minister Condemns Israel After Fresh Assaults
In a series of events that have once again raised tensions in the Middle East, Israel launched a series of air strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The attacks, which prompted mass evacuations in Lebanon's capital Beirut, came approximately an hour after the Israeli military announced plans to target Hezbollah's "military infrastructure."
The Israeli army carried out strikes on the towns of Meiss el-Jabal, Kfar Tebnit, and Debbin, with Hezbollah vehicles, motorcycles, and members and assets of the group reportedly among the targets. The Israeli military had earlier evacuated marked buildings in the area, indicating that the attacks were imminent.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered in November 2024, has been repeatedly violated by Israel, according to Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The agreement, primarily supported and coordinated by Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, aimed to stop hostilities between the two parties and align steps towards disarming Hezbollah and reducing military presence, with the ultimate goal of achieving stability in the region.
Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah is supposed to disarm and move north of the Litani River, while Israel is supposed to withdraw fully from Lebanese territory. However, Israel has not withdrawn fully from Lebanese territory and still occupies at least five points in southern Lebanon.
Salam denounced Israel's air strikes on three towns in the south of the country, accusing Israel of "intimidation and aggressions" in defiance of last year's ceasefire. Lebanon called on the international community, especially France and the United States, to stop Israel's aggressions.
The attacks occurred just after Hezbollah marked the one-year anniversary of Israel's so-called pager attack on its members. Hezbollah's arms have been a contentious issue in Lebanon, with attempts to interfere with its military capabilities leading to internal conflict. Hezbollah has suffered major losses since last year, including the death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike.
Israel has been targeting southern Lebanon almost daily since the ceasefire, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by the international community. The terms of the ceasefire agreement, as set by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, were adopted at the end of the 2006 war to stop hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The escalation in tensions comes as Lebanon is under pressure from the United States to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. The future of the region remains uncertain as both Israel and Hezbollah continue to maneuver in a delicate and volatile political landscape.
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