The Israeli Army announced bombings against Hezbollah in Lebanon three days after the fragile ceasefire came into effect. Israeli Defense claims that the targets were related to the group’s weapons transport, which it accuses of violating the agreement.
The ceasefire in Lebanon was established last week after months of destructive airstrikes and fighting. Under the agreement, Israeli forces must gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon within two months. The Shiite Hezbollah militia, in turn, is expected to retreat from positions north of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south of the country.
It remains unclear, however, when around 1 million people displaced by the conflict will be able to return home safely. Israel says it bombed southern Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah activity that posed a threat and described four attacks.
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The Army justified that one of the targets, on the border between Lebanon and Syria, was being “actively used” by Hezbollah to transport weapons from Syria to Lebanon, which it described as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The other three attacks, Israeli Defense says, were launched when it identified members of the Lebanese militia approaching Hezbollah structures, carrying weapons or engaging in what it described as terrorist activity. The army refused to provide further details about these attacks.
Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the bombings. Since the beginning of the ceasefire on Wednesday the 27th, Israel has attacked at least two other locations described as Hezbollah infrastructure. Despite sporadic attacks, the truce seemed to be maintained in Lebanon, unlike what is happening in Gaza, where Israeli forces are maintaining the offensive in the north of the Palestinian enclave.
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Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza believes more than 70 people died in attacks in Beit Lahia, north of Gaza City, but says it was unable to access the site due to the Israeli blockade.
“Entire families were exterminated in northern Gaza, and we know nothing about them,” states the Civil Defense statement – which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants when publishing death tolls in the conflict. “There are survivors who remain under the rubble for a long time, and there is no civil defense to rescue them.”
Rescue teams have been unable to operate in northern Gaza since the start of the Israeli offensive almost two months ago. Internet and telephone service in the area has also been unstable in recent days, making access to reliable information about victims even more difficult.
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The Israeli Army, on the other hand, denied the airstrikes in Beit Lahia and attributed the reports to “false Hamas propaganda”, although it confirmed that it maintains the operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Army has stated that it operates “based on accurate and reliable intelligence against terrorists and Hamas targets, not against civilians in Gaza.” He further added that the mentioned area is an “active war zone”.
