Daijiworld Media Network - Beirut

Beirut, Feb 23: Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, despite a ceasefire agreement intended to end hostilities with Hezbollah, according to local media reports.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. local time, Israeli warplanes targeted multiple locations, including the outskirts of Ansar in Nabatieh Governorate, as well as areas between Qlayleh and Al-Sama'iya. Strikes were also reported in a valley near Maaroub in Tyre District and in Saida District, as per Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).

The ceasefire, which took effect on November 27, 2024, was designed to halt more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which intensified after the war in Gaza began, according to Xinhua news agency. Under the agreement, Israel was expected to withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days, while the Lebanese army would deploy along the border to maintain security and prevent the presence of weapons and militants south of the Litani River.

However, despite the withdrawal deadline passing on February 18, Israel has retained control over five key positions along the Lebanese border. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued occasional airstrikes, claiming they are targeting Hezbollah-linked threats.

Israel asserts that its military operations have eliminated over 2,000 Hezbollah members. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that the ongoing conflict has displaced 1.2 million people.

The conflict escalated when Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, encountering fierce resistance along a narrow border strip. Prior to the invasion, Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, had launched rockets into Israel on October 8, 2023, in response to the war in Gaza.

Lebanese political leaders have condemned the latest airstrikes, warning that they undermine US-led ceasefire negotiations. The country’s deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of intensifying its attacks to pressure Lebanon into making concessions in indirect negotiations with Hezbollah.