Israel strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah claims first attack since truce

Israel conducted air strikes in Lebanon on Monday after vowing retaliation for an attack claimed by Hezbollah, the militant group's first since a fragile ceasefire between the two sides took effect last week.

Israeli warplanes launched strikes on the outskirts of the town of Jbaa, about 20 kilometers from the border, as well as the Deir al-Zahrani area, the National News Agency said. The Israeli army also raided Buslayya in the southern region of Iqlim al-Tuffah, Srayra in the Jezzine region, Yaroun and Berghoz, amid artillery shelling on the outskirts of Rashaya al-Fukhar and the Khiam plain.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted border crossings between Lebanon and Syria in al-Qusayr.

The Israeli military said Monday it had struck "Hezbollah terrorists, dozens of launchers, and terrorist infrastructure throughout Lebanon".

It also said it struck "the Hezbollah launcher in the area of Berghoz in southern Lebanon shortly" after Hezbollah targeted an Israeli position in the occupied Shebaa Farms. "Israel demands that the relevant parties in Lebanon fulfill their responsibilities and prevent Hezbollah's hostile activity," the Israeli army said in a statement.

Israel faced accusations on Monday of breaching the truce, which came into force on Wednesday to end a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements on both sides of the border.

While the ceasefire has largely brought fighting to a halt, Lebanon accused Israel of breaching the truce around 60 times in the 6 days since the truce went into effect.

On Monday, Hezbollah launched for the first time since the ceasefire took effect, an attack targeting an Israeli position in "the occupied hills of Kfarshouba" as a "defensive and warning response" after what it called "repeated violations" of the ceasefire deal by Israel. It said complaints to mediators tasked with monitoring the ceasefire "were futile in stopping these violations."

After the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of a "serious violation" and vowed to "respond forcefully".

"We are determined to uphold the ceasefire and respond to any violation by Hezbollah, no matter how minor or serious," he said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also vowed a "harsh response".

Shortly afterwards, the Israeli military said it was "striking terror targets in Lebanon".

Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah has 60 days to withdraw its fighters and infrastructure from southern Lebanon, pulling back north of the Litani River, which is about 30 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border. During that time, Israeli troops are also to withdraw to their side of the border.

On Monday before the Hezbollah fire, Israeli carried out at least four airstrikes and an artillery barrage around southern Lebanon, including a drone strike that killed a person on a motorcycle, according to Lebanese state media. Another strike killed a corporal in the Lebanese security services. The Israeli military said it carried out operations in the south against Hezbollah militants, “thwarting threats to Israeli civilians,” without elaborating.

Another drone strike Monday hit a Lebanese army bulldozer, wounding a soldier, in the northeastern town of Hermel – far north of the Litani River. The Israeli military said it hit military vehicles operating “in the area of a Hezbollah missile manufacturing site.”

The Israeli military said it was "aware of reports regarding a soldier from the Lebanese military who was injured in one of the strikes and the incident is under investigation".

It said it was responding to "several acts by Hezbollah in Lebanon that posed a threat to Israeli civilians in violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon".

The Lebanese army, which stayed on the sidelines of the Israel-Hezbollah fighting, is supposed to deploy additional troops in the south alongside U.N. peacekeepers to ensure Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the area.

An Israeli strike on Saturday in the southern Marjayoun area killed two people, according to state media.

In a video statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel was striking Hezbollah fighters in the south when they are identified or seen attempting to move weapons.

“Their presence south of the Litani River is the most basic violation of the understandings … They must move north immediately,” he said, despite the 60-day period the deal gives for a pullback.

- 'Aggressive actions' -

Earlier in the day, Lebanon's powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri, had accused Israel of violating the truce.

"The aggressive actions carried out by Israeli occupation forces... represent a flagrant violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement," said Lebanon's powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who helped mediate the truce on behalf of ally Hezbollah.

The fighting escalated after Israel moved its focus from Gaza to Lebanon in September to secure its northern border from Hezbollah attacks, dealing the Iran-backed movement a sequence of stunning blows.

Also Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told Saar in a call of "the need for all sides to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon", the foreign ministry said.

Saar rejected accusations that Israel had violated the truce.

"We hear claims that Israel is violating the ceasefire understandings in Lebanon. On the contrary! Israel is enforcing them in response to Hezbollah's violations, which demand immediate action," he said in a statement.

He also said Hezbollah had attempted to move weapons in southern Lebanon and their presence "south of the Litani river is the most basic violation of the understandings".

Under the deal, Hezbollah must withdraw its fighters from areas south of the river, and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south.

As part of the agreement, the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers will deploy in southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws over a period of 60 days.

- 'Threats' -

A committee involving France, U.N. peacekeepers, Israel, Lebanon and chaired by the United States is tasked with maintaining communication between the various parties and ensuring violations are identified and dealt with to avoid any escalation.

"We ask the technical committee formed to monitor the implementation of this agreement where it stands on ongoing violations... that have exceeded 54 breaches," Berri added, urging it to "oblige Israel to stop its violations and withdraw from territories it occupies".

The United States said Monday it believed that a ceasefire was still holding in Lebanon and that it was looking at potential violations.