Beirut – An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed one person, Lebanese authorities said, as tensions escalate between Israel and Hezbollah despite a November ceasefire. the Israeli military claimed the target was a Hezbollah member and related infrastructure.
Lebanon Disarms hezbollah, Israel Responds with Strikes
Recent actions signal a fragile peace as both sides accuse the other of violating agreements.
- The Lebanese army announced Thursday it had disarmed Hezbollah south of the Litani River, in line with the November 2024 ceasefire.
- Israel responded with strikes targeting what it called Hezbollah “terrorists” and weapon storage sites.
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated Hezbollah’s weapons have “exceeded their purpose” and a decision to disarm has been made.
- International pressure, especially from the United States, is mounting on Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that “an Israeli enemy strike on a car in Bent Jbeil in southern Lebanon” resulted in one fatality. This incident occurred after the Lebanese army declared it had successfully disarmed pro-Iranian Hezbollah south of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, adhering to the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement.
What is the status of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? While a ceasefire is in place, israel maintains it has been forced to respond to repeated violations by Hezbollah, justifying continued strikes within Lebanon.
The Israeli army issued a statement asserting it struck “a Hezbollah terrorist” in the region “in response to hezbollah’s repeated violations of the ceasefire agreements” reached at the end of 2024. Additionally, they later reported targeting “an underground site used for storing weapons belonging to Hezbollah.”
The Lebanese news agency ANI reported that Israeli “fighter planes” also struck the town of Kfar Hata, north of the Litani River, causing “notable damage” to buildings. Prior to the strikes, the Israeli army issued an “evacuation order” for the area, warning of an attack on Hezbollah’s “military infrastructure.”
ANI also detailed “a series of violent Israeli strikes” on other locations, including Mahmudiyeh, al-Dimasqiyeh, al-Bureij, and the Jezzine region, though no casualties were reported in those areas. Most of these locations, like Kfar Hata, are situated north of the Litani River.
In a Sunday interview with state television, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun suggested Hezbollah’s arsenal had outlived its usefulness as a deterrent. “Keeping them today has become a burden for his community and for Lebanon as a whole,” he said, confirming that “the decision has been made” to disarm Hezbollah.
Lebanon faces significant pressure from the United States to disarm Hezbollah, which has been weakened following a year-long conflict with Israel. On Thursday,the Lebanese army claimed to have achieved “the objectives of the first phase” of its plan to disarm the Shiite movement south of the Litani,with plans to extend the effort nationwide.
Israel characterized these efforts as “an encouraging start,” but deemed them “far from sufficient,” justifying the continuation of strikes within Lebanon despite the ceasefire. France, for its part, “welcomed” the “encouraging announcements from the Lebanese authorities,” urging a “resolute” continuation of the disarmament process.
Published at 12 h 15. Updated to 15 h 36.
