Lebanon ceasefire —real or fiction?
The ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese political and militant group Hezbollah is on shaky ground following an Israeli air-strike on Beirut's southern suburbs March 28. It was the first strike on Lebanon's capital since a pause in hostilities came into effect on Nov. 27 last year. Israel—which has bombed southern Lebanon almost daily despite the ceasefire—said it was retaliating for a rocket attack into northern Israel. (TNH)
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned March 29 that if Israel continues to carry out strikes in Lebanon, and the Lebanese government does not act to stop it, then his organization will take matters into its own hands. In a speech marking Quds Day, Qassem insisted that Hezbollah is still committed to the ceasefire. "We fully complied and we have no presence south of the Litani [river], but Israel did not abide," Qassem declared. Israel asserts that it has struck dozens of Hezbollah fighters who were operating south of the Litani River since the start of the ceasefire in violation of the terms.
Qassem was supposed to give his speech on Friday, March 28, to mark Quds (Jerusalem) Day, which is usually held on the last Friday of Ramadan. However, it was postponed because of the Israeli air-strikes on Lebanon, including that in southern Beirut. Quds Day commemorations, when Iran and its regional allies organize marches in support of the Palestinians and against Israel, were launched in 1979 by Iran's revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. (ToI)
UN 'deeply concerned' over latest Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
The UN expressed 'deep concern' April 1 over the escalation of violence in Lebanon following an Israeli attack in southern Beirut. The air-strike that morning reportedly killed four and injured several civilians. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim they targeted a Hezbollah official.
This attack follows another Israeli strike in Beirut last Friday, March 28, despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that has been in effect since November. The agreement calls for cessation of hostilities, and withdrawal of Hezbollah and Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. However, both parties have accused the other of violating the terms of the agreement since its inception.
At a press briefing, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated:
The "Blue Line" refers to the UN-drawn line between Lebanon and Israel. Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, calls for a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces past the Blue Line. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is a peacekeeping mission that deploys forces along the demilitarized zone to monitor the cessation of hostilities and ensure peace. The ceasefire agreement of November 2024 is centered around recommitment to the 2006 resolution.
Over the weekend, UNIFIL peacekeepers reported warning shots fired across the Blue line by the IDF. Dejarric called the action "a clear violation of resolution 1701" and emphasized the importance of both parties adhering to the resolution to cease hostilities. He added: "Any attempt to interfere with peacekeepers’ mandated duties and any act that compromises their safety is unacceptable."
The IDF claimed the Apri 1 attack "eliminated" Hassan Bdeir, an operative of Hezbollah and Iran's Qud Force.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the strike a breach of the resolution and the ceasefire agreement. (Jurist)