Israel Breaks Ceasefire Again: Daily Lebanon Raids Force Hezbollah Fightback Now
Israel intensifies attacks on southern Lebanon amid Hezbollah’s rejection of diplomatic talks.
The Israeli Defense Forces have escalated air strikes targeting Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, marking a significant breach of the ceasefire agreement signed in November 2024. The military claims these operations focus on Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild military infrastructure and will persist to eliminate any threat to Israeli territory. Lebanon’s state news confirmed raids in several towns but reported no casualties.
Hezbollah has strongly rejected any political negotiations with Israel, stating that direct talks would not serve Lebanon’s national interest. The group stressed its right to defend against an enemy that continues attacks despite the ceasefire. This stance comes amid diplomatic pressure from the United States and Egypt urging Lebanon to engage in dialogue with Israel. The two countries remain technically at war with limited communication restricted to UN-backed monitoring mechanisms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that operations in Lebanon could intensify further, with Defense Minister Israel Katz echoing that enforcement against threats to northern Israel would not relent. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the increased Israeli raids even as his government, under U.S. pressure, directed the army to prepare to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year—a move Hezbollah called premature and dangerous.
The volatile situation is compounded by Israel’s ongoing military presence in southern Lebanon and nearly daily air strikes targeting Hezbollah, nearly a year after Israel assassinated the group’s longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2024. Lebanon’s army has been charged with disarming Hezbollah in the south before expanding efforts nationwide, but the group insists it will not disarm as long as Israel continues its attacks and maintains a military foothold in Lebanese territory.
This escalation underscores the fragile state of peace in the region, highlighting deep divisions within Lebanon and continuing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. The prospect of direct negotiations remains distant as both sides prepare for potential future confrontations.
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