The Israeli military has prohibited Lebanese residents from moving south to a line of over 60 villages and their surroundings, warning that anyone doing so “puts themselves in danger,” spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
The restrictions follow incidents on Thursday, where Israel said it fired at “suspects” with vehicles in several areas of the southern zone, alleging a breach of the recently enacted ceasefire with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group. The truce, brokered by the United States and France, came into effect on Wednesday.
In response, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah accused Israel of violating the agreement. “The Israeli enemy is attacking those returning to the border villages,” Fadlallah stated during a press briefing, asserting that there were ongoing violations by Israel.
Israel’s military also reported that its air force struck a Hezbollah facility storing mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon on Thursday—the first such attack since the ceasefire began.
The Lebanese army accused Israel of multiple violations of the truce on Wednesday and Thursday, adding to the growing tension.
The ceasefire agreement aims to halt hostilities for 60 days, with hopes of establishing a more permanent peace. However, the exchange of accusations between Israel and Hezbollah underscores the fragile nature of the agreement, which coincides with ongoing tensions in Gaza.