Ceasefire Crumbles: Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Lebanon, Sparking Retaliation, Heightened Tensions

A tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is teetering on the brink of collapse following a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.

Since the truce agreement came into effect last week, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of at least eleven Lebanese civilians and one State Security officer, prompting retaliatory action from Hezbollah and casting doubt on the agreement’s viability.

The escalation began on Monday. An Israeli rocket strike killed State Security officer Mahdi Khreis in Nabatieh, prompting condemnation from Lebanon’s State Security agency as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire. Further Israeli bombardment in nearby Marjayoun resulted in another fatality, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. A drone attack in northeastern Lebanon injured a Lebanese soldier. These incidents were followed by Israeli airstrikes that killed at least nine others in Haris and Talloussah, in southern Lebanon, bringing the total death toll to eleven.

In response to what it termed “repeated violations” of the ceasefire, including deadly air raids, attacks on civilians, and overflights by Israeli drones and jets, Hezbollah launched a retaliatory attack against an Israeli military base in the disputed Kfar Chouba hills, an area claimed by Lebanon. Hezbollah described the action as a “preliminary defensive response” and a “warning strike,” saying that appeals to halt Israeli violations had been unsuccessful.

Israel, however, responded with further airstrikes, declaring a “harsh” response to Hezbollah’s actions. This escalation dramatically increases the risk of a return to all-out war.

Despite the ongoing violence, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed confidence in the overall success of the ceasefire, stating that it has been successful in reducing the daily loss of life compared to the previous two months. He indicated that the US would use the agreement’s monitoring mechanism to address ceasefire violations.

However, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally and chief Lebanese negotiator in the ceasefire talks, strongly contradicted this assessment, asserting that Israel has violated the truce dozens of times through air raids and the demolition of homes near the border.

The ceasefire, brokered by the US and France, stipulates a 60-day deadline for Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon and a Hezbollah retreat north of the Litani River, with the Lebanese army to become the sole armed force in southern Lebanon during this period. The current situation throws these stipulations into serious question and suggests that the possibility of a renewed conflict remains very real. The agreement prohibits attacks by all sides; however, Israel insists its recent air strikes are intended to “enforce” the truce.