Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in South Lebanon, US Says Ceasefire Holds

An Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Hariss resulted in five fatalities and two injuries, while another strike on Tallousa killed four people and injured two others.

The Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes late Monday targeting what it claimed were Hezbollah fighters, infrastructure, and rocket launchers across Lebanon. These strikes came in retaliation for Hezbollah firing two projectiles toward Mount Dov, a disputed region known as Shebaa Farms, located where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel converge. Israel stated that the projectiles landed in open areas, causing no injuries.

Hezbollah, in response, explained that it fired on an Israeli military position as a defensive measure and warning after Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement. The group claimed that its complaints to mediators tasked with overseeing the ceasefire had been ignored, leading to the violation continuing.

Prior to Hezbollah’s retaliation, Israel had carried out at least four airstrikes and an artillery bombardment in southern Lebanon. Among the casualties was an individual killed by a drone strike while riding a motorcycle, according to Lebanese state media. Another strike resulted in the death of a Lebanese security forces corporal.

Israel maintained that its actions were in response to Hezbollah’s violations, asserting its right to retaliate under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of breaching the truce more than 50 times in recent days, citing airstrikes, the demolition of homes near the border, and violations of Lebanese airspace.

U.S. officials, who along with France helped mediate the ceasefire and oversee its implementation, downplayed the significance of these Israeli actions. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby noted that, overall, the ceasefire was largely holding, with Israeli strikes decreasing from multiple attacks per day to just one or two. He added that efforts would continue to bring the strikes to a halt.

The ceasefire agreement grants Hezbollah 60 days to withdraw its fighters and infrastructure from southern Lebanon. During this period, Israeli troops are also expected to pull back to their side of the border.