Tense Calm: Ceasefire Holds Despite Israeli Airstrikes in Southern Lebanon
A fragile calm hangs over the border region between Lebanon and Israel following a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Unfortunately, the truce has been marred by a series of Israeli airstrikes and shelling, raising concerns about the agreement’s long-term sustainability.
On Sunday, Israeli jets targeted the village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon, while ground troops shelled other villages still under Israeli control. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
These attacks came just days after a ceasefire agreement was brokered by the US and implemented between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has continued to call on displaced Lebanese citizens to refrain from returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon even though the ceasefire is in effect.
Lebanese officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Lebanese military, have sharply criticized the Israeli airstrikes and overflights since the ceasefire began. They accuse Israel of directly violating the terms of the agreement.
Despite the criticism, the Lebanese military has stated that they have lodged formal complaints, but no military response has been taken by Hezbollah. This reserved response from Hezbollah suggests that, for now, at least, both sides are attempting to avoid a complete breakdown of the fragile truce.
Israel maintains that these strikes are necessary to thwart potential attacks from Hezbollah. In an effort to ensure stability and enforce the ceasefire agreement, the United States has announced the formation of a new monitoring committee. Led by Major General Jasper Jeffers and US envoy Amos Hochstein, this committee includes representatives from France, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Lebanon, and Israel.
Hochstein played a vital role in mediating the ceasefire agreement over the past year and will lead the committee temporarily until a permanent civilian co-chair is appointed.
As Lebanon grapples with the aftermath of the intense fighting, the nation is attempting to rebuild and return to normalcy. The Lebanese military continues to dispose of unexploded ordnance left behind by Israeli strikes in southern and eastern parts of the country.
Meanwhile, rescue workers are discovering the grim reality of the conflict, recovering bodies from the rubble in southern Lebanese towns. "Until now, we haven’t been able to go to our village, and our hearts are burning because our martyrs are buried in this manner,” said Om Ali, whose husband, a combatant from the border town of Aita el-Shaab, was killed in the fighting.
The first phase of the ceasefire involves a 60-day cessation of hostilities. During this time, Hezbollah fighters are expected to withdraw north of the Litani River, while Israeli forces will pull back into northern Israel. Lebanese troops will then deploy in large numbers to the south, effectively becoming the sole armed force in control of the region alongside UNIFIL peacekeepers.
But significant challenges persist. The ongoing instability prevents mourners from returning to their villages to properly bury their deceased. The Lebanese Health Ministry and military have set aside a temporary burial ground in the coastal city of Tyre for the deceased. Dr. Wissam Ghazal of the Health Ministry in Tyre reported that nearly 200 bodies have been temporarily laid to rest in this location until the situation near the border stabilizes.
"We hope the crisis ends soon so we can go and bury them properly as soon as possible, because truly, leaving the entrusted ones buried in a non-permanent place like this is very difficult," Om Ali said.
TYRE, Lebanon — Israeli jets Sunday launched an airstrike over a southern Lebanese border village, while troops shelled other border towns and villages still under Israeli control, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.
The attacks come days after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike in the village of Yaroun, nor did the Hezbollah militant group. Israel continues to call on displaced Lebanese not to return to dozens of southern villages in this current stage of the ceasefire. It also continues to impose a daily curfew for people moving across the Litani River between 5 pm and 7 am.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Lebanese military have been critical of Israeli strikes and overflights since the ceasefire went into effect, accusing Israel of violating the agreement. The military said it had filed complaints, but no clear military action has been taken by Hezbollah in response, meaning that the tense cessation of hostilities has not yet broken down.
When Israel has issued statements about these strikes, it says they were done to thwart possible Hezbollah attacks.
The United States military announced Friday that Major General Jasper Jeffers alongside senior U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein will co-chair a new U.S.-led monitoring committee that includes France, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon known as UNIFIL, Lebanon, and Israel. Hochstein led over a year of shuttle diplomacy to broker the ceasefire deal, and his role will be temporary until a permanent civilian co-chair is appointed.
Lebanon meanwhile is trying to pick up the pieces and return to some level of normal life after the war that decimated large swaths of its south and east, displacing an estimated 1.2 million people. The Lebanese military said it detonated unexploded munitions left over from Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon. Elsewhere, the Lebanese Civil Defense said it removed five bodies from under the rubble in two southern Lebanese towns over the past 24 hours.
The first phase of the ceasefire is a 60-day cessation of hostilities where Hezbollah militants are supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon north of the Litani River and Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. Lebanese troops are to deploy in large numbers in the south, effectively being the only armed force in control of the south alongside UNIFIL peacekeepers.
But challenges still remain at this current stage. Many families who want to bury their dead deep in southern Lebanon are unable to do so at this point.
The Lebanese Health Ministry and military allocated a plot of land in the coastal city of Tyre for those people to be temporarily laid to rest. Dr. Wissam Ghazal of the Health Ministry in Tyre said almost 200 bodies have been temporarily buried in that plot of land, until the situation near the border calms down.
“Until now, we haven’t been able to go to our village, and our hearts are burning because our martyrs are buried in this manner,” said Om Ali, who asked to be called by a nickname that means “Ali’s mother” in Arabic. Her husband was a combatant killed in the war from the border town of Aita el-Shaab, just a stone’s throw from the tense border.
“We hope the crisis ends soon so we can go and bury them properly as soon as possible, because truly, leaving the entrusted ones buried in a non-permanent place like this is very difficult,” she said.
In the meantime, cash-strapped Lebanon is trying to fundraise as much money as it can to help rebuild the country the war cost some $8.5 billion in damages and losses according to the World Bank, and to help recruit and train troops to deploy 10,000 personnel into southern Lebanon. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also called for parliament to convene to elect a president next month to break a gridlock of over two years and reactivate the country’s crippled state institutions.
—
Chehayeb reported from Beirut.
## Interview with Dr. Sarah El-Masri, Senior Analyst at the Middle East Institute, on the Fragile Ceasefire in Lebanon
**World Today News:** Dr. El-Masri, thank you for joining us today. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, but Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon raise serious concerns. How fragile is this peace, and what are the underlying causes for these continued tensions?
**Dr. El-Masri:** The situation is indeed precarious. While the ceasefire agreement is technically in effect, the Israeli airstrikes and shelling directly contradict it’s spirit. This demonstrates the deep mistrust between the parties involved and highlights the challenges of enforcing such a delicate agreement.
The underlying causes of this fragility are multifaceted. We see a complex interplay of historical grievances, ongoing security concerns, and political maneuvering. Israel understandably remains concerned about Hezbollah’s military capabilities and potential cross-border attacks.
Hezbollah, on the other hand, views these airstrikes as a continued violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an attempt to undermine their influence in the region. The presence of a powerful non-state actor like Hezbollah further complicates matters, as conventional ceasefire mechanisms may not adequately address their actions.
**World Today News:** The international community, particularly the US, has been heavily involved in brokering the ceasefire. What role can external actors play in ensuring its long-term stability?
**Dr. El-Masri:** The US, as the primary mediator, has a critical responsibility to ensure the ceasefire holds. Thay must exert pressure on both sides to fully adhere to the agreement and refrain from any actions that could escalate the situation.
The newly formed monitoring committee led by the US, with participation from France, UNIFIL, Lebanon, and Israel, is a positive progress.This platform offers a mechanism for dialog, dispute resolution, and confidence-building. It is indeed crucial that this committee operates transparently and effectively.
**World Today News:** Hezbollah has demonstrated restraint so far, declining to retaliate militarily. How notable is this, and are there factors that might influence their future response?
**Dr.El-Masri:** Hezbollah’s restraint is absolutely crucial at this juncture. Their decision not to respond militarily demonstrates a commitment, at least for now, to the ceasefire. However, their patience is not limitless.
Continued israeli provocations, particularly airstrikes and incursions into Lebanese territory, could erode this restraint. Hezbollah might feel compelled to respond, leading to a dangerous cycle of escalation.
**World Today News:** Beyond the ceasefire’s immediate challenges, what are the long-term implications for Lebanon and the region?
**dr. El-Masri:** The current situation highlights the deep-rooted instability in the region. lebanon, already grappling with political and economic crises, desperately needs a lasting peace. A continued state of tension and sporadic violence will hinder its recovery and development. Additionally, this situation could easily spill over and destabilize the entire region.
For long-term stability,a complete political solution addressing the underlying issues is essential. This requires genuine dialogue and negotiations between all parties, leading to a sustainable arrangement that respects Lebanese sovereignty, addresses Israeli security concerns, and ensures the peaceful coexistence of all parties.
**World Today News:** Thank you, Dr. El-Masri, for your insightful analysis. We hope your expert knowledge provides our readers with a clearer understanding of this complex and evolving situation.
