Three Israeli Airstrikes Hit Brital Outskirts

Israeli aircraft conducted a series of airstrikes on Monday targeting the Sraj area near Brital, located on the eastern outskirts of Lebanon’s Baalbek district. According to reports from Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, the air raids marked the latest in a sustained pattern of strikes carried out by Israeli forces in both eastern and southern parts of the country.

In a separate incident, two individuals were injured during airstrikes overnight in the southern Lebanese towns of Beit Leef and Majdal Zoun. The information was confirmed by Lebanon’s Health Ministry, which provided no further details on the condition of the wounded.

These operations form part of an ongoing military campaign by Israel, which has continued to conduct aerial attacks nearly every day despite the existence of a truce agreement reached in late November. The ceasefire, formalized on November 27, was designed to end more than a year of intermittent hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which included a two-month period of sustained conflict.

Ceasefire Terms and Disputed Territorial Control

Under the terms outlined in the ceasefire agreement, armed entities operating in southern Lebanon are to be limited to the Lebanese Armed Forces and United Nations peacekeeping personnel deployed through the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). However, the Israeli military has maintained a presence in five areas along the Lebanese border it designates as strategic for national security.

These disputed locations remain a focal point of contention between the two sides, with Hezbollah refusing to engage in further disarmament discussions until Israel fully vacates those border positions and ceases its military operations in Lebanese airspace.

Hezbollah Reaffirms Conditions for Future Talks

On Sunday, during a speech marking the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, senior Hezbollah official Sheikh Naim Qassem addressed the state of the truce and reiterated the group’s stance. Qassem asserted that Hezbollah has fully complied with the terms of the current agreement and emphasized that no further steps would be taken unless Israel first fulfills all outstanding obligations.

The group has long maintained that Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory, as well as ongoing aerial assaults, remain violations of the ceasefire deal. Qassem outlined several conditions for future negotiations, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the contested border zones, an end to airstrikes, and the release of Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

Until these demands are met, Hezbollah indicated it will not consider further concessions or disarmament, reinforcing a hardened position amid persistent tensions along the border.

Ongoing Risk of Escalation

Despite the ceasefire arrangement, recent events have underscored the fragility of the truce and the potential for renewed escalation. Cross-border incidents, including missile fire and aerial attacks, continue to place pressure on diplomatic efforts to sustain stability in the region. With both sides maintaining rigid positions, the likelihood of resolving outstanding issues through dialogue remains uncertain.

The continuation of Israeli air operations and Hezbollah’s refusal to alter its posture without significant concessions may prolong the stalemate, keeping southern Lebanon and northern Israel in a protracted state of volatility.