The Israeli military announced on Thursday that IDF jets had carried out an attack, destroying medium-range rocket launchers at a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon, despite a fragile ceasefire with the militant group.
“The Israeli Air Force, with the direction of the Intelligence Directorate, struck Hezbollah medium-range rocket launchers at a military site belonging to the terrorist organization,” IDF said in a statement.
“Hezbollah rocket launchers adjacent to an additional military site in the area of Nabatieh were also struck,” it added.
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
The Israel-Hezbollah truce began on November 27 and has been overshadowed by mutual accusations of violations from both parties.
Even after the ceasefire took effect, the IDF continued conducting ground operations to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in villages across southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said in a statement that before the strike it had sent a request to Lebanon’s army to destroy the launchers and that the launchers were only attacked after the Lebanese side failed to act.
“Prior to the strike, a request was sent to the Lebanese armed forces to neutralise the launchers that posed a threat to Israeli civilians and… troops,” according to a statement from the Israeli military. “The launchers were struck only after the request was not addressed by the Lebanese armed forces.”
Thursday’s strike targeted medium-range rocket launchers in the Nabatieh area, top IDF officials said.
The Lebanese army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The official National News Agency of Lebanon reported that Israeli jets carried out at least three strikes targeting the area.
Fragile Ceasefire
As per the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese army is tasked with deploying alongside UN peacekeepers in the south, while the Israeli military is to withdraw over a 60-day timeline.
Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
In December, the UN peacekeeping force raised concerns over the ongoing damage caused by Israeli actions in southern Lebanon.
On Thursday, the Israeli military defended its actions, stating that they were conducted to eliminate threats to Israel and were in line with the ceasefire agreements.
(With inputs from Reuters)
