The Israeli military launched fresh airstrikes across Lebanon on the exact first anniversary of its ceasefire agreement with the armed group Hezbollah. On Thursday (27 November), the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that they had targeted multiple Hezbollah positions and key infrastructures in Southern Lebanon, according to a report by AFP. This military action marks a significant escalation on a day that was intended to commemorate a year of reduced hostilities.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes carried out multiple raids in Al-Mahmudiya and Al-Jarma villages within the Jezzine region of the south. In an official statement, the Israeli military asserted that the operation aimed to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities and dismantle infrastructure in various strategic locations. The statement further highlighted that the strikes targeted several rocket launching sites, military outposts, and weapon depots where significant quantities of munitions were allegedly stored. Israel maintains that these operations are essential to degrade the military strength of the Iranian-backed group and prevent any future threats to its national security.
The ceasefire agreement was originally signed on 27 November 2024, following more than a year of intense cross-border tensions triggered by the conflict in Gaza. A core provision of the agreement stipulated that Hezbollah must withdraw its forces and military equipment north of the Litani River, creating a buffer zone approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli border. The deal also mandated the complete dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure within this zone. Despite the formal agreement, Israel has repeatedly accused the group of attempting to covertly re-establish its presence in the south through smuggling and underground facilities.
According to the Lebanese government’s current security strategy, the national army is scheduled to remove all of Hezbollah’s remaining military infrastructure from the southern regions before the conclusion of this calendar year. Once this objective is achieved, the government intends to extend this demilitarisation process to other parts of the country to ensure state sovereignty. However, the latest round of Israeli strikes on the anniversary of the peace deal has raised serious concerns regarding the longevity of the treaty. Analysts fear that such violations may lead to a total collapse of the fragile ceasefire, potentially dragging the region back into a broader and more devastating conflict.
GLIVE/TSN