Israel, Hezbollah accuse each other of violating ceasefire
Israel and Hezbollah accused each other of violating terms in the temporary ceasefire that went into effect Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The accusations began after Israel fired on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, wounding two people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it fired after it noticed people trying to return to areas that were restricted within the agreement.
IDF in a post online wrote that “the IDF identified a vehicle with several suspects in a zone prohibited for movement in Lebanese territory.”
“IDF troops fired to prevent them from advancing, and the suspects left the area. The [Israeli air force] remains ready to act across Lebanese territory and the IDF Aerial Defense Array is also in a high state of defensive readiness," the post continued. "There are currently no changes to the Home Front Command guidelines."
They continued, "The IDF will operate against anyone who attempts to breach the ceasefire agreement and will continue to protect the citizens of Israel."
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah turned the tables on Israel, claiming the IDF was targeting those returning to villages along the southern border despite the ceasefire agreement, Reuters reported.
The 60-day truce halts 14 months of fighting since Hezbollah began attacking Israel following Hamas’s attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel will also slowly withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah agreed to do the same north of the Lebanese Litani River.
The Lebanese Armed Forces and Lebanese security forces were tasked with patrolling the territory to enforce that Hezbollah could not reconstitute in the region.
“I have good news from the Middle East,” President Biden said in White House remarks Tuesday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet approved the deal. “I’m pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah."
Biden added that the U.S. will make a new push for a pause in fighting in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as well.