Israel's first air strike on Lebanon after the ceasefire, said- Hezbollah violated the agreement.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that its warplanes shelled southern Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah activity at a rocket storage unit. This is the first Israeli air strike a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. There was no immediate information about casualties in the Israeli air strike, which came hours after the Israeli military said it fired on people trying to return to some areas in southern Lebanon.
Israel said they were violating a ceasefire agreement but gave no details. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said two people were injured. The series of incidents has raised concerns over the US and French-brokered agreement, which includes an initial two-month ceasefire.
Civilians targeted in Markaba
Under this, Hezbollah fighters have to withdraw north of the Litani River and the Israeli army has to return to its part of the border. The buffer zone will be patrolled by Lebanese soldiers and UN peacekeepers. On Thursday, the second day of the ceasefire after more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's state news agency said that Israeli firing targeted civilians in Markaba near the border, but did not give any further information. Israel said that it also shelled three other places near the border. There is no immediate information about casualties.
violation of ceasefire terms
An Associated Press reporter in northern Israel near the border saw Israeli drones flying overhead and heard gunfire from Lebanon. The Israeli military said in a statement that "several suspects were identified driving vehicles into several areas of southern Lebanon in violation of the terms of the ceasefire." It said troops "opened fire on them."
Israeli officials have said that the army will be withdrawn gradually once the agreement is implemented. Israel has warned people not to return to the areas where soldiers are deployed. It has said that if Hezbollah violates the terms of the ceasefire, it has the right to attack it.
Israeli forces will return.
A Lebanese military official said Lebanese troops would gradually deploy in the south as Israeli forces withdraw. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.