03/12/2024–|Last updated: 12/3/202403:28 (Mecca time)
9 people were killed and 3 injured in southern Lebanon last night, Monday, in raids launched by Israel after Hezbollah, for the first time since the start of a fragile truce between the two sides, launched missiles at an Israeli military site in response to Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement. An escalation between the two sides prompted Washington to rush to urge both sides to adhere to the truce amid fears it would fail.
The Lebanese Health Ministry announced deaths and injuries in two Israeli raids targeting the towns of Haris and Taloussa in southern Lebanon, the heaviest death toll from attacks since the country’s fragile truce took effect. last week. The ministry announced the death of at least one person in the commune of Marjayoun following a strike carried out by a drone on a motorcycle, according to the National Information Agency.
The Lebanese army also said that a soldier was injured during an Israeli raid on a military bulldozer in the Hosh al-Sayyid Ali region of the Bekaa in the east of the country.
On Monday evening, the Israeli army announced that it had attacked “dozens of Hezbollah missile platforms and infrastructure across Lebanon.” The Israeli army added – in a statement – that it was ready to continue its attacks, if necessary. Hebrew Channel 12 said the Israeli army attacked 30 targets in Lebanon.
The Israeli military statement said that last night’s shooting against Israel was a violation of the ceasefire agreement. He called on the relevant Lebanese authorities to implement the agreements and prevent Hezbollah’s hostile activities. He also affirmed his continued attachment to the agreements related to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Hezbollah’s missile attacks as a serious violation of the ceasefire and affirmed Israel’s determination to continue implementing the agreement.
Hezbollah said it bombed the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Kfar Shuba hills, in an initial defensive and warning response to Israeli violations. The party said the targeting of the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site followed repeated violations by the Israeli enemy of the cessation of hostilities agreement announced at dawn last Wednesday.
On the Lebanese side, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement between it and the Iran-backed party, calling the committee formed under the agreement to oversee its implementation, which includes the United States and France. , to “urgently fulfill its duties and force Israel to end its violations and withdraw from Lebanese territory.”
However, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement to reporters that “the ceasefire holds” and that Washington is investigating possible violations of the ceasefire. He urged Israel and Lebanon to maintain the progress of the ceasefire agreement for the benefit of both sides.
Collapse of fears
However, Axios reported – citing sources – that the US administration has secretly expressed concern to the Israelis about the possibility of a collapse of the ceasefire.
It reveals that President Joe Biden’s administration is concerned about the possibility of a collapse of the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon.
Axios said – citing a US official – that the Israelis have been playing what it described as a dangerous game in recent days.
She added that the US envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hockstein, informed Israel that it must make way for a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, expressing concern over its ongoing strikes in Lebanon.
But the US news site also cites informed sources as saying that Israel and Lebanon have informed the White House of their commitment to the ceasefire despite the border violations.
In this context, the Israeli news site Walla, citing sources, said that the Minister of Strategic Affairs had assured the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, that Israel wanted to preserve the agreement in Lebanon.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper cited informed sources as saying that the United States had warned Israel against violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
The sources said there were Israeli violations of the agreement, including the return of Israeli marches to the skies over Beirut.
A French official told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that his country feared the breakdown of the ceasefire.
He added that Paris is in permanent contact with the commander of the Lebanese army and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and that they are determined to work to maintain the ceasefire.
Since dawn last Wednesday, a ceasefire has been in effect between Hezbollah and Israel, putting an end to a conflict that began more than a year ago between the two parties, the day after Israel launched a devastating war in the Gaza Strip following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
The agreement, concluded under the auspices of the United States and France, provides for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon within 60 days, during which Hezbollah will withdraw its forces north of the Litani River (at 30 kilometers from the border with Israel) and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Since the truce came into effect, Lebanon’s official National News Agency has reported daily “continued violations of the ceasefire” by Israeli forces, with cities, particularly border towns, being subjected to bombardment. artillery and machine gun fire.