BEIRUT — On Thursday, the Israeli Defense Forces reported that its air force targeted southern Lebanon following the detection of Hezbollah activity at a rocket storage site. This marked the first Israeli airstrike since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect the previous day.
Initial reports did not detail casualties from the Israeli air raid. This followed an earlier Israeli military action against individuals attempting to re-enter certain areas in southern Lebanon, allegedly in violation of the ceasefire. Israel provided no specifics regarding this earlier incident; however, Lebanon’s National News Agency stated two people were injured.
These consecutive incidents raised concerns about the sustainability of the U.S. and French-brokered agreement. This two-month truce stipulates Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River and the return of Israeli forces to their side of the border, with a buffer zone patrolled by Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers.
On Thursday, the second day of the ceasefire following over a year of intense conflict, Lebanon’s state news agency reported Israeli fire targeting civilians in Markaba near the border, though further details were unavailable. Israel confirmed artillery fire in three other border locations; there were no immediate casualty reports.
An Associated Press journalist in northern Israel near the border recounted hearing the sound of Israeli drones and artillery strikes originating from Lebanon.
The Israeli military stated that “several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire.” The statement continued that troops “opened fire toward them” and would “actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli officials have indicated a phased withdrawal of forces contingent on the agreement’s enforcement. Israel warned against returning to areas with deployed troops, reserving the right to strike Hezbollah for any truce violations.
A Lebanese military official, speaking anonymously due to authorization restrictions, confirmed that Lebanese troops would deploy gradually in the south as Israeli forces withdraw.
The ceasefire agreement, announced late Tuesday, concluded 14 months of conflict ignited a day after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack from Gaza, prompting Hezbollah’s rocket, drone, and missile attacks in solidarity.
Israel responded with airstrikes, and the conflict escalated over nearly a year before culminating in all-out war in mid-September. The Gaza conflict remains ongoing.
Lebanese health officials reported that over 3,760 people in Lebanon died from Israeli fire during the conflict, many civilians. The fighting resulted in more than 70 deaths in Israel, over half civilians, as well as dozens of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.
Approximately 1.2 million people were displaced in Lebanon, with thousands returning home on Wednesday despite warnings from both the Lebanese and Israeli militaries to avoid certain areas. Around 50,000 people were displaced in Israel, but few have returned, leaving border communities largely deserted.
In Menara, an Israeli border community overlooking Lebanon, approximately three-quarters of homes sustained damage, some with collapsed roofs and burned interiors. Several residents were seen collecting belongings on Thursday before departing.