Israel and Hezbollah Accuse Each Other of Violating Ceasefire

Just one day after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah aimed at ending nearly 14 months of war, both sides accused each other of violating it on Thursday, December 8. The Israeli army announced on Thursday that it attacked a facility used by Hezbollah for storing medium-range missiles in southern Lebanon. According to the Israeli army's statement, its fighter jets attacked the facility after observing Hezbollah activities, neutralizing the existing threat. The statement added that the Israeli army is stationed in southern Lebanon and ready to counter any violations of the ceasefire agreement. Earlier, Avichai Adraee, the Arabic-speaking media spokesperson for the Israeli army, warned residents of several areas in southern Lebanon via a post on social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) not to return to their homes. Adraee mentioned the Lebanese cities of 'Shebaa', 'Habbariyeh', 'Marjayoun', 'Arnoun', 'Yahmur', 'Qantarah', 'Shaqra', 'Barashit', 'Yitr', and 'Al-Mansouri'. He wrote that the Israeli army 'does not intend to attack you', but warned that at this stage, residents of these areas cannot return to their homes. In contrast, Hassan Fadlallah, a Lebanese parliament member from Hezbollah, claimed that Israel is violating the ceasefire agreement. According to him, Israel is attacking residents of southern Lebanese villages who have been displaced from their homes. He added that today's attacks by Israel are also a violation of the ceasefire agreement. Israel Katz, the Israeli Minister of Defense, spoke on the phone with his British counterpart John Healey on Thursday, stating that Israel will use military force to prevent the smuggling of weapons by the Iranian government to Lebanon. Katz referred to the ongoing efforts of the Islamic Republic to open new fronts of war against Israel, adding that Israel will respond militarily to any violation of the ceasefire agreement. He also appreciated Britain's efforts to prevent the Iranian government from destabilizing the Middle East. The Israeli army estimated on Thursday that it has killed 3,500 Hezbollah members during the past 14 months of conflict. According to this data, nearly 7,000 other Hezbollah members have sustained serious or moderate injuries and are unable to fight. The Israeli army believes that Hezbollah has been significantly weakened but is not destroyed and has retained about half of its basic capabilities. Israel claims it is actively implementing the ceasefire and preventing the rearmament and reconstruction of Hezbollah's infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday, December 6, after the announcement of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah by his country's security cabinet, that 'this agreement means we are now focusing on the threat of the Iranian government.' Under the ceasefire agreement, Israeli ground forces are to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon and be replaced by the Lebanese army. Hezbollah has also committed to evacuating its forces from southern Lebanon and retreating to about 19 kilometers from the Israeli border. Hezbollah unilaterally began its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel one day after Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In response, Israel conducted severe attacks against this group’s positions in Lebanon and Syria, killing hundreds of members of this major proxy arm of the Iranian government in the region, as well as many of its senior leaders and military commanders, including Hassan Nasrallah, Foad Shukr, Ibrahim Aqil, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.