Border Crossing Between Syria and Lebanon 'Used by Hezbollah' Targeted

Israel confirmed reports of its air force attacking illegal crossings along the Lebanon-Syria border, stating that Hezbollah was smuggling weapons in the area. Earlier, news agencies reported, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, that a crossing near the town of Wadi Khaled in Lebanon, adjacent to the Homs province of Syria, was targeted in an airstrike, resulting in several injuries. According to this UK-based organization, the Israeli airstrikes occurred after observing 'a convoy of smuggler vehicles' heading from Syria to Lebanon. The official Lebanese news agency reported low-flying Israeli aircraft in the northeast of the country, and the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that these airstrikes caused extensive damage to buildings and vehicles in the area. The Israeli army clarified in its statement that these actions are a 'clear violation' of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The current fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States since November 28, has ended over a year of conflict between the two sides. However, both parties have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement during this period. According to this agreement, Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon by February 19 and hand over the area to the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers. However, Israel announced a few days ago that due to ongoing Hezbollah activities and to ensure the safe return of its citizens to their homes, it will remain in five positions in southern Lebanon for now. Under the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah forces and equipment are supposed to retreat to the north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border of the two countries, and remaining military infrastructure in the south is to be dismantled. A few weeks ago, the Israeli army also announced that it targeted a tunnel on the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah for weapon smuggling.