Israel says 'enforcing' not violating Lebanon truce after US, French accusations

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected U.S. and French accusations on Monday that Israel was violating the terms of a truce that came into effect in Lebanon last week.

"I emphasized that Israel is not violating the ceasefire understandings but rather enforcing them in response to Hezbollah’s violations," Saar posted on X, adding that the presence of Hezbollah south of the Litani is "a fundamental violation of the agreement" and that "they must move north."

"Israel is committed to the successful implementation of the ceasefire understandings and will not return to the reality of October 6, 2023," Saar said.

France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot had told his Israeli counterpart Saar in a phone call Monday that all sides should respect the ceasefire in Lebanon.

The U.S. has joined France in accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire with Lebanon, Israeli reports said.

Washington has especially complained over the use of drones over Beirut and the message was conveyed to Israeli officials through U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, the reports said.

Also on Monday, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, after authorities said one person was killed and another wounded in Israeli strikes on the sixth day of the truce.

"The aggressive actions carried out by Israeli occupation forces... represent a flagrant violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement," Berri, who helped mediate the ceasefire on behalf of ally Hezbollah, said in a statement.

The speaker urged the monitoring committee to "immediately compel Israel to stop its violations" and withdraw from Lebanese territory it is still occupying.

"Where does the committee stand on these ongoing violations, which have exceeded 54," Berri asked, adding that Lebanon and Hezbollah have fully respected the ceasefire's terms.

The U.S.-led monitoring committee includes France, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon known as UNIFIL, Lebanon, and Israel.

The United States military announced Friday that Major General Jasper Jeffers alongside senior U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein will co-chair the committee. Hochstein led over a year of shuttle diplomacy to broker the ceasefire deal, and his role will be temporary until a permanent civilian co-chair is appointed.