According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon has resulted in at least one fatality, underscoring the persistence of near-daily Israeli attacks despite a hezbollah-legitimate-political-party-lebanon-us-envoy/” title=”US Envoy Acknowledges … as a 'Legitimate Political Party' in Lebanon Amid ……Palestine Tensions”>ceasefire agreement reached in November.
The incident occurred on Monday in the Shamsiyah area of Sohmor, located in the Bekaa Valley, where an excavator was struck, killing the operator. Verified footage circulating on social media, confirmed by Al Jazeera, shows emergency personnel transporting the victim on a stretcher.
Reports from local outlets indicate that numerous Israeli drones conducted low-altitude flights over multiple villages in southern and eastern Lebanon. One drone targeted the town of Aitaroun in the afternoon, while another launched an attack on a residence in Houmin al-Fauqa. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from these strikes.
Since the ceasefire took effect on November 27, more than 150 individuals have lost their lives due to Israeli military actions in Lebanon. This ceasefire was intended to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah after nearly two months of cross-border conflict. The war inflicted by Israel on Lebanon resulted in over 4,000 deaths, significantly diminished Hezbollah’s military strength, and eliminated key leaders within the group.
Breaches of the Ceasefire Agreement
Despite the ceasefire terms requiring Israel to withdraw all forces from Lebanese territory, Israeli troops continue to occupy at least five positions along the shared border.
The NNA documented a series of raids on Sunday spanning the Medena Plain, Kfar Rumman, and Jarmaq, with additional strikes targeting Jarmaq and Mahmoudiya. A drone attack was also reported on a residence in Humin.
Earlier this month, an Israeli strike in the southern city of Bint Jbeil resulted in the deaths of five people, including three children. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed these casualties, while the Israeli military stated the operation targeted a Hezbollah operative, acknowledging that “several uninvolved civilians were killed.”
Israel maintains its military presence in Lebanon, insisting that Hezbollah must disarm first-a condition firmly rejected by the Lebanese group.
Calls for Hezbollah’s Disarmament
Israel asserts that its air raids aim to prevent Hezbollah from regaining military capabilities following last year’s conflict, which claimed the life of Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Simultaneously, Hezbollah faces mounting political and diplomatic pressure to relinquish its arms. Both Israel and its key ally, the United States, are advocating for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Hezbollah’s recent attacks on Israel were carried out in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where over 66,000 people have died amid Israel’s ongoing two-year conflict.
On September 5, the Lebanese government assigned the national army the task of developing a disarmament strategy.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Tom Barrack, the US special envoy for Syrian affairs, highlighted the complexity of disarming Hezbollah due to its entrenched political influence.
“The responsibility to persuade Hezbollah to surrender its weapons lies with the Lebanese government; the United States does not seek to exert pressure,” Barrack stated.
Nevertheless, earlier this month, the US Department of Defense announced $14.2 million in aid to the Lebanese army to support its efforts to “degrade Hezbollah,” framing this as part of a broader initiative to counter Iranian-backed armed factions in the region.
Hezbollah, however, has dismissed any proposals to disarm, labeling them as attempts by the US and Israel to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Addressing a large crowd at Hassan Nasrallah’s tomb in Beirut on Saturday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem reaffirmed the group’s commitment to maintaining its military strength despite significant losses.
“We will never relinquish our weapons nor abandon them,” Qassem declared, vowing to oppose any plans that benefit Israel. He warned that disarmament under current circumstances would expose Lebanon to further aggression.
