Fragile Peace Hanging by a Thread as Hezbollah Shells Israel, Citing Violations
Tension along the Israel-Lebanon border escalated dramatically Monday after Hezbollah fired two projectiles into Israeli-controlled territory, shattering a ceasefire that had been in place for less than a week. The attack came in response to ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which both the United States and France believe violate the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
"What was will not be," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, vowing a "harsh response" to the shelling.
Hezbollah’s justification for the attack stemmed from what it called repeated Israeli "violations" of the delicate truce. These violations, the militant group claims, include airstrikes targeting civilians and Lebanese infrastructure, civilian casualties, and breaches of Lebanese airspace.
The projectiles, according to the Israeli military, landed in an unpopulated area and caused no injuries. While Israel insists it will continue enforcing the ceasefire, its definition seems to diverge from Lebanon’s, leading to continuous escalation and potential for complete breakdown.
The two countries had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire last week at the behest of the U.S. and France. A central tenet of the agreement, based on the 2006 UN Security Council Resolution 1701, called for Hezbollah fighters to withdraw 25 miles north of the border, while Israel was to pull back its forces from Lebanese territory.
There is, however, growing discord regarding the interpretation and implementation of the ceasefire. Israel’s actions are raising concerns in both Lebanon and internationally, with sources suggesting Israel has breached the truce approximately 100 times.
The U.S. State Department, while acknowledging the "violations," insists the ceasefire remains "broadly successful."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, however, maintains that Israel is merely upholding the agreement by insisting on Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the Israeli-Lebanon border region.
Sa’ar, echoing the concerns of many in Israel, stressed that Includes the presence of Hezbollah operatives south of Lebanon’s Litani River is a "fundamental violation" and demands their immediate relocation north.
The underlying concerns about Hezbollah’s presence and operations within Lebanon remain shared by both Israel and the international community. The ceasefire agreement called for intensified Lebanese control along the border, aiming to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping and poses a constant threat
The path forward remains fraught with peril. Both sides continue to accuse the other of violating the truce. PARIS-
“Test hour,” declared Benny Gantz, a former Israeli comptroller and current opposition
figure, highlighting the precariousness of the situation. He warns that a failure by Israel to retaliate forcefully against Lebanon could plunge the region back into a dangerous cycle of violence.
This continued back-and-forth, while accusing each other of truce violations,
further threatens the fragile peace established just days ago. The situation
demands diplomatic finesse and clear communication to prevent a return to
all-out war.
CNN
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