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Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Tuesday that if a ceasefire reached last week collapses, Israel will target the Lebanese state itself and will no longer differentiate between Lebanon and Hezbollah.
"If we return to war, we will act with greater force and penetrate deeper and... there will be no immunity for the state of Lebanon," he said during a tour of Israel’s northern border, adding that "until now, we made a distinction between Lebanon and Hezbollah... it will no longer be the case".
Full StoryLebanese and Israeli officials have reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire agreement despite Monday's flare-up and Israel's numerous violations, informed U.S. sources said.
"The ceasefire monitoring team has arrived in Lebanon to begin its work," the sources told Al-Jazeera, adding that Washington is working with France, Lebanon and Israel to resolve any issue through the ceasefire mechanism.
Full StoryPresident Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic partnership on Monday aimed at deepening bilateral ties and de-escalating conflict in the Middle East, including Lebanon, where the two leaders called for presidential elections.
The French leader arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a three-day state visit just as a political crisis threatens to topple the French government.
Full StoryAn Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Hariss killed five people and wounded two while another airstrike on the village of Tallousa killed four and also wounded two.
Israel's military carried out a string of airstrikes late Monday against what it said were Hezbollah fighters, infrastructure and rocket launchers across Lebanon, in response to Hezbollah firing two projectiles toward Mount Dov — a disputed Israeli-occupied territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported.
Full StoryIsrael and Lebanon both told the White House on Monday that despite the recent flare-ups on the border they are committed to the ceasefire agreement and want it to continue, sources with knowledge of the issue told U.S. news portal Axios.
The Biden administration has been concerned the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon could unravel after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire in recent days, U.S. officials said.
Full StoryThe Biden administration is concerned the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon could unravel after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire in recent days, U.S. officials told U.S. news portal Axios on Monday.
White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday that the "sporadic strikes" in recent days were expected.
Full StoryThe United States said Monday it believed that a ceasefire was still holding in Lebanon and that it was looking at potential violations.
"The ceasefire is holding," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce, and Israel in turn accused Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of a "serious" breach.
Full StoryIsrael 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.
Full StoryIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of a "serious violation" of the ceasefire in Lebanon on Monday after the group targeted a military position in the occupied Shebaa Farms.
"Hezbollah's firing at Har Dov (Shebaa Farms) is a serious violation of the ceasefire and Israel will respond forcefully. We are determined to uphold the ceasefire and respond to any violation by Hezbollah, no matter how minor or serious," Netanyahu said in a statement, referring to a disputed area on the Israel-Lebanon border known internationally as Shebaa Farms.
Full StoryHezbollah on Monday launched two missiles towards the occupied Shebaa Farms areas, in the first such attack by the group since the ceasefire took effect last Wednesday.
"A short while ago, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched two projectiles toward the area of Har Dov. The projectiles fell in open areas. No injuries are reported," the Israeli army said, using Israel's term for the disputed Shebaa Farms area, where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet.
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