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Tensions Flare as Newly Brokered Ceasefire is Violated by Hezbollah
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a dramatic turn of events, Israel declared on Thursday that the newly brokered cease-fire with Hezbollah, announced just two days earlier by President Joe Biden in the White House Rose Garden, has already been violated. According to a report on Thursday in The New York Post, Israeli military officials reported that individuals arrived in vehicles, defying the terms of the agreement that took effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday. This breach has already put the fragile truce on shaky ground.
Israeli forces responded by opening fire on several locations in southern Lebanon. The New York Post report indicated that this area is part of the territory from which Israel had agreed to withdraw gradually under the terms of the cease-fire. Lebanese officials alleged that the tank fire was directed at civilians, though the exact affiliations of the individuals remain unclear. The incident raises questions about whether the broader agreement, painstakingly negotiated with French President Emmanuel Macron’s involvement, can survive such early challenges.
𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧: Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanon after accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire.
Is this the end of the fragile ceasefire?#Lebanon #Israeli_bombing #IsraelHezbollah #Hezbollah #bibi #Netanyahu #ceasefire pic.twitter.com/NKr4TPYPGE
— Your Views Your News (@urviewsurnews) November 29, 2024
The contentious cease-fire comes after a prolonged period of conflict. The New York Post reported that Israel’s recent military campaign against Hezbollah decimated its senior leadership, including the death of the group’s long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a precision airstrike in Beirut on September 27. The strike, coupled with earlier operations targeting Hezbollah operatives, was seen as a significant blow to the Iran-backed terrorist organization.
Further complicating matters, Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri reportedly encouraged residents to return to southern Lebanon despite warnings from Israel that the area was not yet safe. The New York Post report emphasized that the situation remains murky, with conflicting accounts about whether those returning were civilians or individuals linked to Hezbollah. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah-aligned member of Lebanon’s parliament, asserted that they were civilians reclaiming their homes, a claim that Israel appears to dispute.
Under the terms of the truce, Israel is set to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon within 60 days. However, as The New York Post report pointed out, the initial violations cast doubt on whether this timeline will hold. The agreement was reached amid the waning days of President Biden’s administration, following his unsuccessful attempts to mediate peace between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The failure to quell tensions in Gaza loomed over his final year in office, adding pressure to resolve the conflict in Lebanon.
Israel launches first airstrike on Lebanon since ceasefire after saying Hezbollah violated the trucehttps://t.co/3o1NKZzISZ pic.twitter.com/bM1kN2kCgg
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 29, 2024
As the cease-fire teeters on the brink of collapse, international observers are closely monitoring the situation. The stakes are high, with the potential for renewed violence threatening not only the region but also the fragile diplomatic gains achieved through months of negotiation.