Israel Attacks Lebanon's Hezbollah Rocket, Accuses Each Other Of Violating Ceasefire

Impact of Israeli attacks in Lebanon/DOKmen WFP/Mohammed Awadh

JAKARTA - The Israeli military said its air force attacked the facility Hezbollah used to store medium-range rockets in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

The attack came after the two sides accused each other of violating a ceasefire aimed at stopping the fighting for a year.

Israel said it also opened fire on Thursday, November 28 against what it called a "suspect" with vehicles arriving in several areas in the southern zone. The Israeli military called it a violation of the ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah armed groups, which took effect on Wednesday, November 27.

Lawmaker Hezbollah Hassan Fadlallah accused Israel of violating the deal.

The Israeli enemy attacked those returning to border villages, Fadlallah told reporters.

Lebanese soldiers later accused Israel of violating the ceasefire several times on Wednesday and Thursday.

Accusing each other of highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France to end the conflict, which coincided with the Gaza war.

The ceasefire lasted for 60 days in the hope of a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Israel's airstrikes on Thursday were the first since the ceasefire took effect on Wednesday morning.

Lebanese security sources and announcer Al Jadeed said the attack took place near Baysariyah, north of the Litani River.

The ceasefire agreement stipulates that military facilities illegal south of the Litani River must be dismantled, but does not mention military facilities north of the river.

Earlier, Israeli tank fire hit five cities and several agricultural fields in southern Lebanon, state media and Lebanese security sources said.

All of these territories lie within a distance of 2 km (1.2 miles) from the Blue Line that limits the border between Lebanon and Israel, in territory that the Israeli military has announced as a restricted zone along the border, even after the deal is approved.

The Israeli military said it identified several suspicious activities that posed threats and violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

"Every deviation against this agreement will be dealt with by fire," said General Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.