Tensions flared once again in southern Lebanon on Thursday as Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of two individuals, despite an existing ceasefire agreement aimed at halting hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the development in an official statement, reporting that an Israeli drone targeted a civilian vehicle in the border town of Mais al-Jabal, leading to the death of a Lebanese national and injuries to two Syrian nationals. A second strike in the same area reportedly killed another person, bringing the total death toll to two.
The Israeli military has since released a statement acknowledging responsibility for the strikes, claiming that two Hezbollah operatives were neutralized in separate precision operations. These fresh attacks come in the wake of a fragile truce brokered on November 27, which was designed to bring an end to over a year of escalating confrontations, including heavy aerial bombardments and limited ground incursions by Israeli forces.
As part of the ceasefire terms, Hezbollah had agreed to pull its fighters north of the Litani River—a buffer zone approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli border—and dismantle its military infrastructure in the region. In return, Israel was expected to withdraw all its troops from southern Lebanon. However, Beirut insists that while Hezbollah has fully honoured its obligations under the truce, Israel continues to violate the terms by maintaining military presence in five key strategic positions along the border.
President Joseph Aoun, in an interview with Sky News Arabia on Wednesday, reaffirmed that the Lebanese army now has control of over 85 percent of the southern territory, a claim supported by Lebanese security sources who confirmed to international media that Hezbollah has vacated areas south of the Litani and dismantled its military setups in compliance with the ceasefire terms.
Oversight of the ceasefire’s implementation is being carried out by a five-party commission comprising Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France, and the United Nations. Lebanese authorities are now calling on the international community to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to respect the agreement, cease its military operations within Lebanese territory, and vacate the remaining occupied positions.
The renewed violence has sparked concerns over a potential breakdown of the delicate peace arrangement, with fears that continued violations could lead to a broader regional escalation. Lebanese officials maintain that their side has upheld every aspect of the ceasefire agreement and are urging for swift action to prevent further bloodshed and instability along the volatile border corridor.
