Israeli forces continue to bombard south Lebanon
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli attacks continued on southern Lebanese towns and villages on Saturday night, in violation of a ceasefire agreed with Hezbollah last month.
The Israeli raids included a “violent bombing operation” on areas between the towns of Markaba and Rab Thalathine in the Marjayoun district, the NNA reported. Israeli ground troops also invaded Qantara and Taybeh and burned a number of homes there, NNA said, citing the Lebanese army.
The Anadolu Agency says Israeli forces have violated the ceasefire agreement more than 300 times since it went into effect a month ago.
Israel signals it wants to stay in southern Lebanon past ceasefire deadline
The Israeli leadership is exploring the possibility of continuing to occupy areas across southern Lebanon past the 60-day deadline pledged in a ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah in late November, according to the country’s most widely read newspaper.
Israel Hayom reported that top political and military leaders have held several discussions in recent days regarding the potential extension.
Israel will be reportedly discussing the prospect with both the outgoing Joe Biden administration and president-elect Donald Trump in the US, since the ceasefire’s deadline is due less than a week after Trump takes office.
The reasons being raised by Israeli leaders are an alleged slow deployment by the Lebanese army in the south, and the “abundance of Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure that are still exposed in the field”.
The Lebanese army has repeatedly condemned the Israeli military for deadly attacks across southern Lebanon in repeated violations of the ceasefire, while Israel has kept warning Lebanese citizens against returning to their homes.
It was always about occupying more land, another buffer zone for your buffer zones. It's the same tactic as in the West Bank, annex more and more.
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