Israel attacks Lebanon (AP Photo)
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came under renewed pressure on Saturday after new Israeli raids in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a Lebanese army soldier and two children, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.The latest attacks came less than 24 hours after a US-Qatar-brokered ceasefire took effect, and raised new concerns about the viability of the broader Iran-US peace framework, which includes provisions aimed at ending hostilities in Lebanon.
According to the National News Agency, an Israeli air strike targeted the Kfar Rumman roundabout, killing a Lebanese army soldier. Separate raids hit Sohmar and Shibl in Jezzine district and the town of Barish, killing four members of one family, including a father, mother, and two children.The agency also reported air strikes on the Hama Labaya area, drones flying at low altitude over the southern suburbs of Beirut, and a series of raids on Kafrman, Haboush, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Shukin, Zibdin, and Kafarjouz. Civil defense teams and emergency responders continued search and rescue operations amid reports that several people were still trapped under the rubble.The renewed violence follows the deadliest wave of Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the announcement of the Iran-US memorandum of understanding earlier this week.
According to Lebanese authorities, at least 18 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Thursday evening after four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed in Hezbollah attacks in southern Lebanon.Although the ceasefire went into effect Friday afternoon, an Israeli airstrike was reported near the southern Lebanese town of Al-Sajad shortly afterwards, according to Lebanese media.The IDF indicated that military operations would continue despite the truce.IDF spokesman Brigadier General Evi Devrin said: “These attacks by Hezbollah are violations of the ceasefire. They prove that Hezbollah’s goals remain the same: to remain on Israel’s borders and to plan and carry out attacks on our civilians. This is not a reality we can accept, and this is exactly why the IDF continues to operate in southern Lebanon. Recent events have made one thing clear: IDF soldiers must stand between Hezbollah and Israeli civilians.”He added: “We will not wait for the next attack to reach our homes. We will continue to remove direct threats, respond to Hezbollah violations, and do everything necessary to protect our civilians.”Israel says its recent operations come in response to Hezbollah attacks, which resulted in the killing of four soldiers and the injury of a number of others. The Israeli army claimed to have struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon and eliminated dozens of militants.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military campaign and pledged further measures.“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the Commander of the 52nd Armored Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedaliah Ben Simhoun, and the three heroic fighters whose names have not yet been revealed. I avenge their blood, and wish a full recovery for those wounded in yesterday’s exchange of fire. Following the heinous attack by Hezbollah, which was a flagrant violation of the ceasefire, I instructed the IDF last night to strike Hezbollah with full force.” Netanyahu said.He added, “The IDF attacked more than 80 terrorist targets and eliminated dozens of terrorists. After that, the IDF struck Hezbollah headquarters in the Bekaa Valley this morning.”He further warned: “This morning I conducted an assessment of the situation with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of General Staff. My directives are clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and will pay a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks.”
As I made clear unequivocally, including yesterday: Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as required to protect the settlements in the north.
“This escalation was also accompanied by inflammatory speeches from Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose comments sparked widespread criticism.“For every tear an Israeli mother sheds, a thousand Lebanese mothers must cry.
All of Lebanon must burn!” Ben Gvir wrote on the X website.“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make clear to the whole world that the blood of our children and the security of our citizens will not be compromised. All of Lebanon must burn.”“Enough of the ping-pong. In the Middle East, you can’t win with calculated reactions and restraint – you have to go berserk. To wipe out. To crush terrorism.”On the Lebanese side, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said that the group will continue to defend itself if it is attacked.Qassem said in a televised speech: “The project to eliminate Hezbollah and consolidate the occupation has failed, and the Israelis will withdraw from every inch of our land.”He also accused Israel and the United States of trying to weaken the Lebanese resistance movement and interfering in the country’s future.The renewed fighting threatens one of the key provisions of the 14-point Iran-US memorandum of understanding, which calls for an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations, including in Lebanon, while negotiations on a broader settlement continue.The violence also coincided with the postponement of technical talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, which were expected to focus on implementing the agreement. This delay has raised concerns that continued hostilities in Lebanon could derail efforts to stabilize the region in the wake of the recent US-Iranian breakthrough.For now, the ceasefire appears to exist largely on paper, with both Israel and Hezbollah accusing each other of violations while military operations continue on the ground. The latest strikes underscore how quickly the Lebanese front is emerging as one of the biggest tests of the fragile peace process taking shape across the Middle East.
