- Israeli forces have violated a U.S.-brokered ceasefire by launching airstrikes in Lebanon, killing at least four people including an elderly woman.
- The attacks targeted areas in the mountainous east and the southern village of Arabsalim.
- This escalation is part of a pattern of Israeli ceasefire breaches in both Lebanon and Gaza.
- A UN report details 100 Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since the truce began, with Israel failing to withdraw its troops as required.
- An analyst warns this model of perpetual, low-level conflict creates a permanent state of insecurity for Lebanese civilians.
In a blatant violation of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israeli forces have once again escalated violence in Lebanon, killing at least four people in air strikes on Thursday. The attacks, which targeted the mountainous east and the southern village of Arabsalim, included the death of an elderly woman, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. This aggressive move signals a dangerous return to hostilities and raises serious questions about Israel’s commitment to its peace agreements.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the casualties, marking the latest in a series of breaches by Israel since the truce was signed last November. This pattern of disregard for diplomatic agreements is not isolated to Lebanon. In Gaza, Israel has killed more than 100 people since October 10, demonstrating a consistent policy of violating ceasefires.
Growing violence in Lebanon
Thursday’s violence saw Israeli warplanes launch what was described as a series of violent strikes. The Israeli military claimed it attacked sites linked to Hezbollah, including a military camp and a site for precision missile production. However, the victims on the ground tell a different story, one of civilian casualties and shattered truces. This incident is part of a broader campaign; a recent UN report noted 100 Israeli airstrikes and 950 projectiles fired into Lebanon since the ceasefire began.
The fragile truce, designed to end a year of limited fighting and two months of full-scale war, is now under immense strain. The agreement had stipulated that Israel would withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory. Instead, Israel has maintained a military presence at five border outposts and continues its assaults. UN human rights experts have explicitly accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by failing to withdraw.
The situation in Lebanon appears to be following a similar blueprint to Israeli operations in Gaza. An analyst warned that Lebanon "could well serve as the model for Gaza, essentially giving leeway to Israeli forces to strike whenever they deem a threat without a full resumption of conflict." This creates a permanent state of insecurity for the Lebanese people, where the constant threat of violence becomes the status quo.
For citizens on the ground, the reality is a life of anxiety. "Honestly, it is hard to feel safe or at ease with Israeli drones constantly flying low and causing a loud, unsettling noise," one Beirut resident said. This sentiment underscores the human cost of these ceasefire violations, which extend far beyond the immediate casualties.
The repeated breaches in Lebanon and Gaza paint a picture of a state that is completely unmoored from international law and diplomatic commitments. These aren't isolated incidents—they're part of a broader refusal to honor commitments made at the negotiating table. For the Lebanese residents who are listening to drones overhead and the Gazans who are burying their dead, the ceasefire really exists only on paper. Without genuine accountability and a willingness to withdraw forces as promised, these agreements are little more than pauses before the next round of violence hits. The international community's silence on the matter speaks volumes about who gets to break the rules.
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