Rising Israel-Lebanon tensions intensify after fresh Israeli airstrikes and evacuation warnings, as Hezbollah resistance and diplomatic rifts threaten to unravel the fragile Lebanon ceasefire.
The uneasy calm along the Israel-Lebanon border is collapsing once again. On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes hit multiple towns in southern Lebanon, killing one person and wounding eight others in a sharp escalation that signaled the possible end of the current ceasefire agreement.
The attacks targeted what Israel described as Hezbollah military infrastructure in Tayr Debba, At-Taybah, and Ayta Al-Jabal — areas south of the Litani River. Prior to the strikes, evacuation warnings were issued to nearby residents, triggering panic as families fled their homes.
Return to Open Conflict
According to Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee, those killed were “workers employed within Hezbollah infrastructure used to rebuild facilities destroyed during the war.” Lebanese officials, however, condemned the strikes as violations of the ceasefire, insisting that Lebanon had not fired a single shot since the agreement took effect on November 27.
An official Lebanese source told Arab News that Israel has breached the ceasefire dozens of times, launching both air and ground attacks deep inside Lebanon. “Lebanon has refrained from responding to these violations,” the source said, emphasizing that Beirut seeks diplomacy, not war.
Hezbollah Warns of ‘Dangerous Consequences’
In response, Hezbollah issued a letter to Lebanon’s leadership, warning that negotiating with Israel could have “dangerous consequences.” The group reaffirmed its commitment to resistance, claiming a “legitimate right to defense” against ongoing Israeli aggression.
“The right to defend ourselves does not depend on peace or war agreements,” the letter stated. “We are defending our country against an enemy that continues its aggression and seeks to subjugate our state.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, however, has reiterated his readiness to pursue negotiations with Israel “as a comprehensive national option.” His stance has drawn mixed reactions at home, with several political parties condemning Hezbollah’s defiant tone.
Israel’s Strategy and Growing Tensions
Israeli military reports claim that Hezbollah now possesses over 20,000 missiles, double previous estimates. Officials have also hinted at preparations for a new military intervention in Lebanon aimed at weakening the group and pressuring the Lebanese government to reach a “stable agreement” with Israel.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the army’s goal is to “push the Lebanese government to sign an enduring security deal.” At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Beirut itself could be targeted if Hezbollah launched any attacks on northern Israel.
Katz said the U.S. is currently mediating and “exerting pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah,” noting that Israel will give diplomacy a chance — but stands ready to retaliate against any threat.
Lebanon’s Fragile Security and Ceasefire Oversight
Lebanon’s Cabinet met Thursday to review the Army Command’s report on operations south of the Litani River. The report outlined the army’s efforts to place all weapons under state control, increase military presence to 118 positions, and dismantle illegal weapons depots and tunnels.
However, the Lebanese army also reported direct Israeli attacks on both its soldiers and members of UNIFIL — the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
UNIFIL spokesperson Candace Ardell reaffirmed that the peacekeeping force is working closely with Lebanese authorities, stressing that its mission remains “essential to maintaining stability in the region.”
Diplomatic Stalemate
Despite growing tensions, Lebanese officials maintain that they remain open to peaceful dialogue, though they have ruled out any negotiations over territory or prisoner exchanges. “Lebanon wants diplomacy, not escalation,” one official said. “But what’s needed now is an end to Israeli strikes.”
The official added that Israel’s actions “cannot be justified” given Lebanon’s restraint under the ceasefire.
A Fragile Future
The situation remains dangerously unstable. With Israel intensifying its attacks, Hezbollah warning of retaliation, and international mediators struggling to prevent renewed conflict, the risk of a broader Israel-Lebanon war is rising once again.
Whether diplomacy can hold — or whether another devastating conflict looms — now depends on both restraint and accountability from leaders on all sides.
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