Months of fragile calm between Israel and Lebanon were shattered when a rocket was fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory for the first time since the two sides agreed to a ceasefire late last year. In response, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against targets in Lebanon, destroying multiple rocket launchers and a command center.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that two people were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a child, and eight others were injured. Lebanon’s Prime Minister warned that his country was being dragged into a new war.
However, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah denied firing the rocket, insisting that they were still committed to the ceasefire agreement that had held for 14 months. The Israeli military, on the other hand, claimed to have intercepted three rockets fired from Lebanon towards the town of Metula in northern Israel, with no casualties reported.
A few hours later, the Lebanese army announced that they had found and destroyed three old rocket launchers, which led Hezbollah to issue a statement reaffirming their commitment to the ceasefire and denying any involvement in the rocket attack.
The situation remains tense, with Israel continuing to conduct daily airstrikes against targets in Lebanon, citing the need to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping. The Lebanese government has condemned these strikes as a violation of their sovereignty and the ceasefire agreement, demanding that Israel withdraw its troops from occupied territories in southern Lebanon.
Israel has maintained that their military presence is necessary to ensure the security of communities along the border. As the situation continues to escalate, concerns are growing that the fragile ceasefire may be on the verge of collapse.
Source: BBC