Israel strikes Lebanon’s east as questions rise over shaky ceasefire
Lebanon’s media say Israeli aircraft carried out three strikes in the Bekaa Valley in the country’s east, two days ahead of a troop withdrawal deadline in a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Enemy warplanes carried out two strikes on the outskirts of the town of Harbata and a third strike on the town of Halbata,” the official National News Agency said.
While Hezbollah has stopped its attacks, Israel has not. Israel’s bombing is nowhere near the same intensity as it was before the ceasefire began on November 27, and nightly bombing of Beirut’s southern suburbs has stopped.
However, Israel is still carrying out attacks, some of which are north of the Litani River – which Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of, as per the ceasefire agreement.
Israeli army confirms it attacked targets in Lebanon
Israel’s army says fighter jets struck military sites containing rocket launchers and weapons “where Hezbollah activity was detected”.
The attacks took place ahead of a deadline for the implementation of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that ended the latest war between the two in late November.
According to the deal, Israel should fully withdraw from the Lebanese territory by February 18 – a date pushed back from January 26 – while Hezbollah agreed to pull back above the Litani River that runs across south Lebanon.
Tensions ahead of the withdrawal have mounted as Israel demanded to remain in five southern locations beyond the deadline – a request supported by the US administration and rejected by Lebanese authorities.
Footage shows smoke rising from Israeli air strikes on Lebanon
Earlier, Israeli aircraft carried out several strikes on the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon’s east. Footage shared online and verified by Al Jazeera shows fire and a cloud of thick smoke rising in the Harbata area, one of three areas hit.
Israel has repeatedly attacked Lebanon despite the November ceasefire deal.
Hezbollah chief says Israel must fully withdraw from Lebanon in two days
The head of Hezbollah says Israel’s troops must pull out of Lebanese territory in full by a February 18 deadline, adding it has “no pretext” to maintain a military presence in the south.
“Everyone knows how an occupation is dealt with,” said Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, without explicitly threatening that his group would resume attacks against Israel.
Under a truce brokered by the US in November, Israeli troops were granted 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, where they waged a ground assault against Hezbollah fighters. That deadline was later extended to February 18, but Israel’s military requested it keep troops in five posts in the south.
In a recorded televised speech, Qassem said: “Israel must withdraw completely on February 18. It has no pretext, no five points or other details … This is the agreement.”
Israel’s public broadcaster said on Wednesday that the United States has authorised a “long-term” Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon.
Woman killed in Lebanon as Israel-Hezbollah truce deadline looms
Lebanese media reported that Israeli gunfire killed a woman as Washington pressed Beirut to disarm Hezbollah two days before a troop withdrawal deadline in the ceasefire.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli forces opened fire towards the southern border town of Hula “after residents entered”, killing a woman.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would do what it must to “enforce” the ceasefire.
“Hezbollah must be disarmed. And Israel would prefer that the Lebanese army do that job, but no one should doubt that Israel will do what it has to do to enforce the understandings of the ceasefire and defend our security,” he said.
Lebanon has faced unrest after a government decision to block Iranian flights from landing in Beirut, with a UN peacekeeper convoy attacked during protests by Hezbollah supporters.
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