Peacekeepers: No airstrikes, but continued activity after Israel–Hezbollah truce

A spokesperson for the US-led peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, has said that peacekeepers have not observed any airstrikes since midnight, when a 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect, AP reports.

He added, however, that artillery activity continued in several areas in southern Lebanon in the early hours of the ceasefire.

He said they had observed “artillery shelling in several areas in south Lebanon” up until 6 a.m. and “continue to observe IDF airspace violation in their area of operations,” referring to the Israeli military.

The spokesperson, Tilak Pokharel, also said peacekeepers had seen Israeli forces moving back and forth across positions but no indication of a withdrawal.

“They are remaining in positions, including in Bint Jbeil,” Pokharel said, referring to a village about 5 km (3 miles) from the border where heavy fighting had taken place before the ceasefire.

By Vafa Guliyeva