Israel accused of violating Lebanon cease-fire agreement nearly 100 times: A fragile truce under siege

As accusations mount against Israel for repeated cease-fire violations in Lebanon, the precarious truce negotiated by the U.S. and France is tested by escalating violence, raising questions about its legitimacy and enforcement.

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Quick summary

• Israel has been accused of over 100 violations of the cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, including airstrikes, artillery barrages, and incursions into Lebanese airspace.

• The cease-fire, brokered by the U.S. and France, aimed to end over a year of conflict but has been repeatedly strained by escalating violence.

• Monday’s Israeli airstrikes killed at least 11 people in southern Lebanon, including civilians, and were described by Israel as responses to Hezbollah’s warning projectiles.

• Hezbollah claims its actions are defensive and accuses Israel of targeting civilians and ignoring cease-fire monitoring processes.

• U.S. officials have downplayed the violations, stating the cease-fire is largely holding, though concerns remain about its potential collapse.

• Lebanon has condemned Israel’s actions, with officials accusing Israel of deliberate provocations to destabilize the region.

• The cease-fire’s future is uncertain as international monitoring and enforcement mechanisms appear ineffective amid continued violence.

The Israeli military has been accused of undermining a fragile cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with reports indicating over 100 violations since the deal took effect last week. The truce, brokered by the United States and France, was intended to halt hostilities following more than a year of deadly conflict. Instead, escalating violence has raised doubts about the cease-fire’s durability and the willingness of involved parties to adhere to its terms.

The agreement, which calls for a cessation of offensive operations and the withdrawal of Israeli and Hezbollah forces from the border region, has been strained by a series of airstrikes and retaliatory actions. According to a United Nations peacekeeping source quoted by CNN, “Israel has violated the cease-fire deal about 100 times.”

On Monday, the Israeli military launched its largest wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon since the truce began, targeting what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure, rocket launchers, and fighters. The strikes killed at least 11 people, including civilians and a member of the Lebanese security forces, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. This followed Hezbollah’s firing of two projectiles toward the disputed Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, which the group characterized as a warning in response to Israel’s repeated violations.

Israel described Hezbollah’s actions as a breach of the cease-fire but acknowledged that the projectiles landed in open areas without causing casualties. Despite the cease-fire’s clear stipulations, Israeli airstrikes have continued, prompting condemnation from Lebanese officials. Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker, stated that Israel violated the truce more than 50 times in recent days through airstrikes, artillery barrages, and incursions into Lebanese airspace.

Hezbollah accused Israel of targeting civilians, asserting in a statement that Israeli forces conducted “airstrikes in different parts of Lebanon, which led to the death of citizens and the injury of others, in addition to the continued violation of Lebanese airspace by hostile Israeli aircraft reaching the capital Beirut.”

Under the terms of the cease-fire, both Israel and Hezbollah were to halt offensive military operations. However, enforcement mechanisms appear to have faltered. The Israeli outlet Ynet reported that Israel acted against Hezbollah’s perceived violations without consulting the international committee responsible for monitoring compliance. In addition, CNN noted that Hezbollah’s projectile fire was in response to “repeated Israeli strikes that have hit Lebanon daily since Thursday, the day after the cease-fire came into force.”

International reactions have been mixed. U.S. officials, including State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, downplayed concerns over the violations, stating, “The cease-fire is holding.” However, he also acknowledged ongoing scrutiny of the situation in partnership with France. Behind closed doors, the Biden administration has reportedly expressed concern about the cease-fire’s stability. According to Axios, a U.S. official noted that “the Israelis have been playing a dangerous game in recent days,” while an Israeli official admitted the current situation could collapse the truce depending on Hezbollah’s response to airstrikes.

Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, issued a stark warning, telling Army Radio that if the truce fails, “we will act strongly and stop separating Hezbollah from the state of Lebanon.” The statement underscores Israel’s position that it reserves the right to retaliate against perceived threats despite the cease-fire.

The humanitarian toll of renewed violence in Lebanon has been devastating. Monday’s airstrikes in Haris and Tallousa killed nine civilians, injured several others, and displaced hundreds. In addition to civilian casualties, Lebanese state media reported drone strikes and artillery barrages targeting southern villages. These incidents have further strained resources in areas already reeling from the conflict’s long-term impacts.

Lebanon’s government has accused Israel of deliberate provocation, with some officials arguing that the violations are intended to weaken Lebanon’s sovereignty and destabilize the region. Meanwhile, U.S. and French officials, who were instrumental in negotiating the cease-fire, have struggled to maintain its legitimacy. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby remarked, “Largely speaking, the cease-fire is holding,” while adding that efforts are ongoing to reduce strikes to zero.

The overlapping crises in Lebanon and Gaza highlight the broader implications of unchecked aggression in the region. As the international community focuses on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 44,000 Palestinians have died during a 15-month Israeli offensive against Hamas, Lebanon’s plight risks being overshadowed. Yet, the situation in Lebanon reflects the same challenges of accountability, civilian protection, and enforcement of international agreements.

The cease-fire agreement allowed 60 days for Hezbollah to withdraw fighters and infrastructure from southern Lebanon and for Israeli forces to retreat to their side of the border. However, continuous breaches from both sides threaten this timeline. Mediators have made little headway in addressing violations, with Hezbollah describing complaints to monitoring officials as “futile.”

A U.S. official cautioned, “The Israelis have been playing a dangerous game in recent days.”

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