Lebanon on Monday accused Israel of “blatant violation” of the ceasefire concluded with Hezbollah, while Israel rejected the accusations, saying that the pro-Iranian Lebanese movement had violated the agreement, after Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Hezbollah announced this Monday that it had fired on an Israeli military position, justifying a “first defensive response” to “violations of the ceasefire by Israel”.
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The President of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, ally of Hezbollah, accused Israel on Monday, December 2, of “ blatant violation » of the ceasefire with the pro-Iranian movement, after Israeli strikes targeted an army post and a border village. Nabih Berri, who negotiated the truce on behalf of Hezbollah, claimed that Israel violated “ at least 54 times » the ceasefire agreement entered into force on November 27. He called the committee overseeing the truce, which includes the United States and France, “ to urgently take action and compel Israel to stop its violations and withdraw » of Lebanese territory.
The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noel Barrotinsisted Monday to his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, on “ the need for all parties to respect the ceasefire “, indicated the ministry. The Israeli minister rejected accusations of violation of the ceasefire. “ On the contrary, Israel enforces it » in response « Hezbollah violations that call for immediate action “, he said in a press release.
Hezbollah announces a “ first defensive response ” to “ violations » ceasefire by Israel
It is in this context that Hezbollah said it had carried out shooting this Monday on an Israeli military position, on “the occupied hills of Kfar Chouba”, a disputed border area claimed by the Lebanon. This is a “ first defensive response ” to “ violations » of the ceasefire by Israel, he said in a statement. The Israeli army reported “ two projectiles “, which did not cause any injuries.
“ We promised to act against any violation of the ceasefire, this is exactly what we will do “, declared the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, assuring that a “ strong response “would respond to Hezbollah fire” to an army base in Har Dov », the Israeli name of Chebaa Farms, neighboring sector of Kfar Chouba.
Netanyahu promises to “respond with force”
“ Hezbollah’s fire towards Har Dov is a serious violation of the ceasefire and Israel will respond forcefully. We are determined to uphold the ceasefire and respond to any violation by Hezbollah, from the slightest to the most serious. », affirmed the Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahuaccording to a press release from his office.
As soon as the agreement was announced, Israel said it reserved “ complete freedom of military action » in Lebanon, if Hezbollah « raped » the ceasefire and “ tried to rearm “.
Sponsored by the United States and France, the ceasefire agreement, which ended two months of open war between Israel and Hezbollah, provides for the withdrawal within 60 days of the Israeli army from Lebanon. Israeli soldiers entered southern Lebanon on September 30, a week after launching a massive aerial bombardment campaign against the Lebanese Islamist movement. Hezbollah, for its part, must retreat north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometers from the border, and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
“ The presence of Hezbollah operatives south of the Litani constitutes a fundamental violation of the agreement and they must move north », affirmed on X Mr. Saar, emphasizing the commitment of his country “ to implement successfully » the ceasefire.
Israeli strikes since the ceasefire came into force
Several Israeli strikes have targeted Lebanon since the ceasefire came into force, without Hezbollah announcing a response until then.
Monday, December 2, an Israeli drone targeted a Lebanese army post in Hermel, in the eastern Bekaa plain, far from the border with Israel, injuring a soldier, according to the army. A man was also killed by an Israeli drone strike on the village of Marjayoun, near the border in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said. According to the Lebanese news agency Ani, he was traveling on a motorcycle.
The Israeli army claimed to have “ targeted military vehicles operating in the area of a Hezbollah missile manufacturing site in the Bekaa “. She added that she “ hit terrorist infrastructure sites used for arms smuggling near the Syrian-Lebanese border in the Hermel region ”, and indicated “ investigate » on the circumstances in which the Lebanese soldier was injured. She also claimed to have carried out “ several strikes in response to Hezbollah terrorists » in southern Lebanon.
Also readLebanon: the truce increasingly weakened by the multiplication of Israeli violations in the south