Israel and Hezbollah accused of violating Lebanon’s ceasefire

They exchanged today (28/11/2024) charges of violating the truce in Lebanon, just one day after its start. In the first attack following the start of the truce on Wednesday morning (27/11/2024) Israel’s army announced that the Air Force hit a facility Hezbollah used to store medium-range rockets in southern Lebanon. Earlier, the Israeli army stressed that the ceasefire was violated after suspects, some in vehicles, arrived in many areas in the southern zone. Shittian movement MP Hassan Fandala in turn accused Israel of breaking the agreement, opening fire against civilians returning to their villages along the southern border of Lebanon with Israel. “The Israeli army attacks those returning to border villages,” he told reporters after a parliament meeting, adding that “there are violations today from Israel, even in this form.” Fire from Israeli tanks today struck six areas within the border lane this morning, hitting Markaba, Wazani and Kfarshuba, Hiya, Taibe and rural plains around Marzayun, they broadcast Lebanese state media and Lebanese security sources. All areas are located two kilometres from the Blue Line that delineates the border between Lebanon and Israel. One of the sources of security said two people were injured in Markaba. The Israeli military announced that it is again imposing a curfew from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the population in southern Lebanon. ‘It is strictly forbidden to move south of the river Litani from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. tomorrow” Friday, said the Arab-speaking representative of the Israeli army, Avicchi Andrai, calling on people south of the river to “stay where they are”. A corresponding ban was issued yesterday. Lebanese families displaced from their homes near the southern border tried to return to check their fortunes. However, Israeli soldiers remain deployed to Lebanese territory in cities along the border and journalists of Reuters heard surveillance drones flying over areas of southern Lebanon. There was no direct comment on tanks fired by Hezbollah or Israel. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israeli forces may take up to 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but on the basis of the agreement neither side allows to launch offensive operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the army not to allow residents to return to Lebanese villages near the border. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabich Berry, the leading interlocutor for Lebanon in the negotiation of the agreement, said yesterday that residents can return to their homes that they had abandoned due to the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Netanyahu launched the attack on Hezbollah saying that Israelis in the northern part of the country should be able to return after they were removed due to the shooting of rockets from Lebanon. About 60,000 people removed from their homes in the Israeli north have yet to be instructed to return to their homes. Hezbollah has said that its fighters “are fully equipped to face the purposes and attacks of the Israeli enemy” and that its forces will monitor Israel’s departure from Lebanon “with their hands on the trigger”.