Israel, Hezbollah trade accusations of ceasefire violations in Lebanon conflict

Israel and Hezbollah accused each other on Thursday of violations of the temporary ceasefire agreement that began Wednesday and which was supposed to mark the first major pause in fighting between the Jewish state and the Iran-backed proxy group. 

On Wednesday, Israel fired on a vehicle in southern Lebanon entering an evacuated zone. The Israeli Defense Forces said this zone was supposed to remain off limits for travel according to the terms of the ceasefire agreement. 

“[The] IDF identified a vehicle with several suspects in a zone prohibited for movement in Lebanese territory,” the IDF said in a post to X. “IDF troops fired to prevent them from advancing, and the suspects left the area.”

The IDF warned it “will operate against anyone who attempts to breach the ceasefire agreement and will continue to protect the citizens of Israel.” 

However, Hezbollah party member and lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah accused Israel of targeting civilians returning to evacuated towns near the border, against the terms of the agreement. 

“The Israeli enemy is attacking those returning to the border villages,” Fadlallah told reporters according to Reuters, adding “there are violations today by Israel, even in this form.” 

Israel’s airstrike on the vehicle was the first exchange of fire since the ceasefire agreement went into effect Wednesday. The deal requires that any Hezbollah military facility south of the Litani River must be dismantled. 

In addition, according to the IDF, the Israeli Air Force attacked a Hezbollah rocket facility in Lebanon on Thursday after detecting terrorist activity in violation of the ceasefire agreement, reports the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). 

“A short time ago, terrorist activity was identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store medium-range rockets in Southern Lebanon,” the IDF confirmed. “The threat was thwarted through a fighter jet attack."

Under the terms of the agreement, Israel has 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon but cannot launch any offensive operations. Israel invaded parts of the country earlier this year to dismantle Hezbollah border strongholds and rocket sites from where the designated terror group was firing on northern Israel since the Gaza war began.