Lebanon, Israel exchange accusations of ceasefire violations

The fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah continues to face regular violations, with both sides accusing each other of breaching the terms of the truce.

Israeli airstrikes have targeted the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and several towns in southern Lebanon on December 6, marking a significant escalation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

These recent attacks have brought the total number of ceasefire violations since November 27 to 155.

On the other hand, the Israeli military routinely accuses Hezbollah of failing to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, warning that it will respond “resolutely” to what it calls gross violations by the Shiite militant group. The ongoing exchanges of blame between the two sides highlight the fragility of the truce and the continued tension in the region.

The international committee overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah conducted a helicopter tour of southern Lebanon on December 6, though the Israeli representative was absent. According to a source in the office of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, this marked the first meeting of the committee members. The source added that the Lebanese army is ready to deploy south of the Litani River swiftly.

Following the tour, an official meeting of the committee is expected within the next two days, likely to be held in Naqoura, with representatives from both the Israeli army and the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL. The committee will also establish a parallel center in the Israeli city of Safed, according to the source.

The Lebanese army explained that the flyover was conducted to provide the committee with an overview of the situation in southern Lebanon. US Major General Jasper Jeffers and French Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin, who co-chair the panel, were among those onboard.

Under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Israel has 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon while Lebanese troops are set to deploy in the region. Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure must relocate north of the Litani River. Since the ceasefire began, Lebanese officials have accused Israel of violating the agreement numerous times.

With at least 12 fatalities reported in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect, both sides have exchanged accusations of breaches. On December 2, Hezbollah launched two projectiles at the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, which Lebanon claims as its own territory. No casualties were reported, and Hezbollah stated the action was a defensive response to Israel’s repeated ceasefire violations.

In the southern city of Tyre, which suffered heavy attacks before the truce, the Lebanese cabinet is scheduled to meet at the Benoit Barakat Barracks on Saturday. To strengthen its deployment capabilities, the Lebanese Army has initiated a recruitment drive, supported by the US and France, to enable the rapid deployment of 10,000 troops to the south.

General Mounir Shehadeh, formerly the Lebanese government's coordinator with UNIFIL, confirmed that approximately 1,500 elite commandos had already been deployed from Beirut.

More than 1.2 million people were displaced across Lebanon due to Israel’s recent military actions, most of them forced to leave their homes during Israel's intensified bombardment in September.

By Vafa Guliyeva