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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement with ceasefire with Lebanon by targeting border villages in the south, as well as areas in the Bekaa Valley.
In its latest violation, the Israeli occupation military on Monday carried out a drone attack on a bulldozer operating near a Lebanese Army position in the village of Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, north of the Hermel district, injuring a soldier from Lebanon.
Later, the Lebanon State Security Directorate announced that an enemy [Israeli] drone targeted one of its members, Mahdi Khreis, in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Drone hit Corporal Khreis with a missile while he was performing his national duty, resulting in his martyrdom, calling the attack a "serious escalation and a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty."
In the south, Israeli occupation forces fired a barrage of machine gun shots at houses in the town of al-Naqoura, coinciding with reconnaissance overflights above the villages in the Tyre district.
The occupation forces also launched four artillery shells towards Khiam, with one shell hitting a chalet in an area between Marj'youn and Khiam, according to the National News Agency of Lebanon (NNA).
The Lebanese Health Ministry said one person was killed in an Israeli air raid on Marj'youn near the border with occupied Palestine.
Yesterday, the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras were targeted by machine gun fire near the "Blue Line."
In addition, the Israeli occupation forces carried out demolition operations in Khiam, with smoke billowing into the air.
Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen correspondent in the South reported the withdrawal of a large number of Israeli occupation vehicles, including 10 Merkava tanks, from eastern Khiam towards the al-Wata area.
These Israeli violations are clear violations of the ceasefire terms in Lebanon. Nevertheless, despite these violations, the people of Lebanon continue to return to their villages and homes in the southern, Bekaa, and Southern suburbs of Beirut.
French Concern
France voiced its concern on Sunday about the potential collapse of the ceasefire agreement signed last week between Israel and Lebanon, the Israeli news website Ynet reported, describing the agreement as "fragile."
According to the website, the French government highlighted 52 Israeli violations, reported to have resulted in the deaths of three Lebanese civilians, and pointed to an increase in low-altitude Israeli drone flights over the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
Ynet mentioned that French officials stated that Israel had taken action against "Hezbollah's alleged violations" without consulting the international committee responsible for monitoring compliance with the agreement.
Paris is said to be in constant communication with Lebanese Army Chief of Staff Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to address the escalating tensions, the Israeli news site added.
"Lebanon is fully committed to upholding the ceasefire and preventing Hezbollah from re-establishing its presence in southern Lebanon, but they must be given time to prove themselves," said a French official as quoted.
Ynet stated that Israeli officials acknowledged the violations they committed, claiming that the international monitoring committee would not be fully operational until Monday or Tuesday. Until then, they emphasized, Israel will maintain its strong response to any alleged violations along the border.
"Every violation will be met with significant law enforcement, as has been the case so far," said a senior Israeli official.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called for an "immediate" cessation of all operations violating the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which has been in effect since Wednesday.
According to AFP, during a telephone discussion with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri yesterday, Macron urged all parties to fully comply with the ceasefire agreement, emphasizing that "any actions undermining the full implementation should be halted immediately."
Hezbollah's Response
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has warned of Israel's efforts to normalize the recent ceasefire violations mediated in Lebanon.
Speaking over the phone with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday, Ghalibaf emphasized the importance of vigilance to ensure that Israel's actions do not become routine.
"Care must be taken to ensure that their violations of this agreement do not become routine," said Qalibaf.
Through Telegram, the Hezbollah called its attack on an Israeli military site in the Kfarchouba hills a "defensive response warning," carried out after "repeated violations" of the ceasefire between them and Israel.
Since the ceasefire came into effect last week on November 27, Israel has carried out more than two dozen attacks on Lebanese territory, resulting in many casualties.
Israel said this was in response to ceasefire violations and people moving near restricted zones in its territory in southern Lebanon.
However, this marks the first time the Hezbollah has retaliated, raising questions about the sustainability of this fragile ceasefire.
Hezbollah also cited the "continuous violations of Lebanese airspace by hostile Israeli warplanes, reaching all the way to the capital, Beirut" in justification of their warning shots, and blamed the "relevant authorities" for failing to stop Israeli attacks in Lebanese territory despite the ceasefire agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, an international committee is tasked with ensuring that no party violates the ceasefire. There have been no statements regarding the repeated Israeli attacks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he told his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, that Israel was not "violating the ceasefire agreement but upholding it in response to Hezbollah's violations."
"The presence of Hezbollah fighters south of the [Litani] River is a fundamental violation of the agreement, and they must move north," he said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The French Foreign Ministry previously stated that Barrot emphasized the "need for all parties to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon" during the phone call.
Editor's Choice: Israel and Hezbollah Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violations
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