Netanyahu Orders Army to Launch Aggressive Assaults on Hezbollah in Lebanon

Two days after a ceasefire agreement was prolonged by three weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed his armed forces to intensify operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The military swiftly carried out new strikes in response, following reports of casualties in southern Lebanon. At least six individuals were killed in attacks that began on Saturday, escalating tensions along the border and challenging the stability of the truce.

The recent clashes have tested the fragile ceasefire, as cross-border skirmishes continue. The extended pause in hostilities, reached after diplomatic discussions in Washington, saw a reduction in hostilities rather than a full cessation. Israeli strikes on a truck and motorbike in Yohmor al-Shaqeef, Nabatieh district, left four dead, according to the Lebanese health ministry. A separate attack in Safad al-Battikh, Bint Jbeil district, claimed two more lives and injured 17 others.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of three Hezbollah members during Saturday’s strikes, stating they were operating a weapon-laden vehicle. Two additional militants were killed in the Litani region, where Israeli soldiers maintain a self-declared buffer zone. The IDF described these targets as posing a threat to its personnel. Later, it identified a suspicious aerial object in Malkia, labeling the event as a breach of the ceasefire.

Hezbollah retaliated by targeting an Israeli military vehicle in south Lebanon, AFP reported. The group claimed the strike was in response to the earlier attack on Yohmor al-Shaqeef. Lebanon’s state news agency documented subsequent Israeli strikes, including assaults on two towns in the Nabatieh district and areas in Tyre and Bint Jbeil. The IDF asserted it had struck Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, emphasizing its commitment to neutralizing threats to civilians and soldiers.

International concerns arose after a journalist was killed in an Israeli attack on Wednesday. The Media Freedom Coalition, comprising countries like the UK, criticized the incident as “unacceptable,” urging protection for media workers. Co-chairs of the coalition stated: “The UK and Finland strongly condemn all violence directed against journalists and media workers.” Amal Khalil, a Lebanese newspaper employee, and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were among the casualties. Lebanese officials alleged they were intentionally targeted while seeking shelter after an initial strike hit a vehicle near them.

The IDF maintained it did not target journalists, asserting the attacks were focused on Hezbollah operatives. Israel’s ongoing occupation of significant parts of southern Lebanon and its large-scale demolitions remain key aspects of the conflict, with the military continuing its operations under political directives.