The Israeli Army fired warning shots at several suspects of violating the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.
According to a statement from the Defense Forces, “in the last hour, the arrival of suspects, some with vehicles, was detected in several areas of southern Lebanon.” “IDF forces fired on them,” the text adds. The IDF noted that the activity constitutes a violation of the ceasefire agreement established this week.
Previously, officials reported three people injured in a drone strike near a vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Markaba on Thursday, just a day after the ceasefire in Lebanon came into effect. detailed the Jerusalem Post. The Israeli military had urged residents of towns along the border not to return yet for their own safety.
According to the Reuters agency, on Thursday morning, fire from Israeli tanks reached six areas within that border strip, according to state media and Lebanese security sources. The shots hit Markaba, Wazzani and Kfarchouba, Khiyam, Taybe and the agricultural plains around Marjayoun, all located less than two kilometers from the Blue Line that delimits the border between Lebanon and Israel.
One of the security sources said two people were injured in Markaba.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, mediated by the United States and France, came into effect on Wednesday at 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT), after more than a year of clashes. The agreement establishes three stages: an initial truce, the withdrawal of Hezbollah north of the Litani River and the total withdrawal of Israeli troops within 60 days.
In addition, it contemplates negotiations to delimit the border between both countries, currently drawn by the UN since the 2006 war. US President Joe Biden assured that the plan is designed as a “permanent cessation of hostilities” and has guarantees of Washington to protect Israel’s freedom of action in case of violations by Hezbollah.
The truce came after weeks of intense violence. Hours before it came into effect, Israel bombed buildings south of Beirut and issued evacuation orders in the area. Under the terms of the ceasefire, it can take up to 60 days for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but neither side can launch offensive operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the army not to allow residents to return to towns near the border. The president of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s main interlocutor in negotiating the agreement, had declared on Wednesday that residents could return to their homes.
Hezbollah has said its fighters “remain fully equipped to confront the aspirations and assaults of the Israeli enemy.” Its forces will monitor the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon “with their hands on the trigger.”
The group has been weakened by casualties and the assassination of its leader Sayed Hasan Nasrallah and other commanders by Israel.
#Israeli #Army #shot #suspects #violating #ceasefire #southern #Lebanon #Diario #Página
