The Israeli army has confirmed that it struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon on Friday, two days after a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group came into effect. The attack followed what the Israeli military described as militant activity in the area.
In a statement, the Israeli military said, “A short while ago, terrorist activity and movement of a Hezbollah portable rocket launcher were identified in southern Lebanon. The threat was thwarted in an Israeli Air Force strike.” The statement was accompanied by a video showing the airstrike targeting a moving truck, believed to be carrying the rocket launcher.
This escalation comes after an announcement by Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who stated that Lebanese residents are prohibited from moving south of a designated line of villages until further notice. The move is part of Israel’s ongoing security measures following the detection of “suspects” in the area. On Thursday, Israeli forces opened fire on vehicles traveling towards southern areas, citing it as a breach of the truce with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group.
In response, Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, calling the Israeli actions “attacks on those returning to border villages.” Fadlallah insisted that Israel’s actions constituted a clear breach of the truce, which was officially enacted on Wednesday.
Adraee reiterated his warnings on social media, urging Lebanese civilians to avoid returning to more than 60 villages in the southern part of the country. He stated that those who move south of the designated line “put themselves in danger.”
Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced that its leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, will deliver a speech today, marking his first public address since the ceasefire began. The speech has garnered attention as both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the truce.
The Lebanese military has also condemned Israel’s actions, accusing the Israeli forces of breaching the ceasefire multiple times in the past days. The exchange of accusations underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States and France in an effort to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The truce, intended to last 60 days, aims to pave the way for a more permanent cessation of hostilities between the two sides.
The ceasefire, which coincides with the ongoing Gaza conflict, has raised concerns about the potential for renewed violence in the region as tensions remain high.
