BEIRUT — On Thursday, reports emerged of at least two individuals injured due to Israeli gunfire in southern Lebanon, as per local state media. This incident took place on the second day of a ceasefire agreement established between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, which was mediated by the United States and France. Under the terms of this arrangement, a two-month ceasefire has been implemented, during which Hezbollah is expected to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River while Israeli troops are to return to their designated side of the border. Moreover, Lebanese armed forces along with U.N. peacekeepers will monitor the newly created buffer zone.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the injuries took place in Markaba, a town near the border, but did not provide additional specifics. It was noted that Israeli artillery was fired in three other border locations; however, there were no immediate reports of further injuries in those areas. An eyewitness in northern Israel reported hearing drones from the Israeli military and the din of artillery from inside Lebanon.
In an official statement, the Israeli military claimed that they identified several individuals attempting to access specific areas in southern Lebanon, which they deemed as violations of the ceasefire. The military proceeded to fire upon these individuals, emphasizing their commitment to actively enforce adherence to the ceasefire conditions.
Israeli officials indicated that the pullout of their forces would be a gradual process, contingent upon verifying that the terms of the agreement were being adhered to. They cautioned against returning to areas where Israeli troops are stationed, reaffirming their intention to respond with military action against Hezbollah, should they breach the ceasefire terms.
Meanwhile, a Lebanese military source disclosed that their troops would sequentially be deployed to the south as the Israeli forces withdrew. This source requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak with the media.
The ceasefire, announced late Tuesday, marked the conclusion of a 14-month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which ignited shortly after Hamas’s surprise attack from Gaza on October 7, 2023. In a show of solidarity, Hezbollah commenced launching rockets, drones, and missiles against Israel, prompting retaliatory airstrikes that escalated into a full-fledged war by mid-September. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with ongoing hostilities showing no signs of abating.
During this conflict, Israeli strikes in Lebanon reportedly resulted in over 3,760 fatalities, many of whom were civilians, according to health sources in Lebanon. In Israel, more than 70 individuals lost their lives — more than half being civilians — alongside the casualties of numerous Israeli soldiers engaged in operations in southern Lebanon.
The conflict has resulted in the displacement of approximately 1.2 million people in Lebanon, with some beginning to return to their homes on Wednesday, despite warnings from both Lebanese military and Israeli authorities about the dangers of re-entering certain regions. Approximately 50,000 individuals were displaced on the Israeli side, but very few have returned, leaving many northern border communities largely abandoned.
