BEIRUT — Hezbollah on Monday accused Israel of committing repeated violations of a ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon and warned that it reserved the right to respond if attacks continued, as tensions persisted despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the border region.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group had documented what he described as multiple Israeli breaches of the ceasefire that took effect earlier this month. Speaking in remarks broadcast by the group's media outlets, Qassem said Hezbollah would not remain passive if violations continued. “We will respond to any violation from Israel,” he said.
The accusations come amid a fragile truce intended to reduce hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah following months of conflict in southern Lebanon. The ceasefire was part of broader diplomatic efforts involving Lebanon, Israel and international mediators, while parallel negotiations between the United States and Iran have also addressed security conditions in Lebanon.
Israeli officials have maintained that their forces retain the ability to act against threats in Lebanon. According to Reuters, Israeli authorities said troops would continue operating when necessary to neutralize security risks, despite the ceasefire framework.
Hezbollah officials and lawmakers have repeatedly argued that Israeli military activity has continued since the truce was announced. Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said last week that Israel was carrying out daily attacks while remaining deployed in parts of southern Lebanon. He called for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory under the terms of broader diplomatic understandings being discussed by regional mediators.
The ceasefire arrangement has faced challenges since its inception. Hezbollah rejected elements of a U.S.-backed agreement announced earlier this month, arguing that the terms did not adequately address Israeli military operations or guarantee a complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Hezbollah leader Qassem previously described the negotiations as unacceptable and said the group's priority remained “an end to the aggression, ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal.”
Residents in southern Lebanon have reported continued uncertainty despite a reduction in large-scale fighting. The coastal city of Tyre and surrounding areas have experienced extensive damage during recent hostilities, and many displaced residents remain cautious about the durability of the ceasefire, according to local accounts and aid workers.
As of Monday, no independent body had publicly released a comprehensive assessment of the alleged violations. Details regarding the number and nature of specific incidents remained unclear. Israeli authorities had not immediately responded to Hezbollah’s latest accusations, while mediators continued efforts to preserve the ceasefire and prevent renewed escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border.
