Israel strikes Majdal Zoun, claims Hezbollah violating truce

Israel’s army said it had struck a launcher in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, one week after the start of a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

"A launcher that was identified in Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon, violating the agreements between Israel and Lebanon and posing a threat to the State of Israel, was struck by the (Israeli Air Force)," the military said in a statement, adding it had also "dismantled weapons" in three locations of southern Lebanon.

Israel has struck Lebanon repeatedly in the week since the ceasefire began, saying it reserves the right under the U.S.- and France-brokered deal to strike what it views as violations by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah struck a disputed border territory held by Israel earlier this week, in what it said was a warning over the Israeli strikes.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel, speaking to reporters in Washington on Tuesday about the Lebanon ceasefire, said it was “largely holding in place.” He would not speak to individual allegations of violations.

The ceasefire is meant to end nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that began when the militant group began firing at Israel in solidarity with Hamas and the war in Gaza.