In a troubling development for the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese state media reported that an Israeli drone launched an attack in southern Lebanon on Saturday. The strike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ainata, with the National News Agency (NNA) confirming that there were no reported casualties from the incident. However, it noted that Israeli drones and surveillance aircraft continued to operate over the area, raising concerns about ongoing tension in the region.
The ceasefire, which has been in effect since November 27, was a response to over a year of hostilities that included two months of intense warfare. As part of the agreement, Lebanon’s military was to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers in the south, while the Israeli army planned to withdraw over a set period of 60 days. Hezbollah was also expected to vacate its positions close to the border during this timeframe. The deadline for these actions had been extended until February 18, but both parties have expressed accusations of violations.
On Thursday, Israeli military officials reiterated their readiness to withdraw from Lebanese territory within the agreed timeline set forth by a ceasefire mediated by the US and France. They also confirmed recent airstrikes targeting Hezbollah military assets believed to contain weapons and launchers.
Amid these developments, Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri revealed that U.S. officials had informed him that, while Israel was set to withdraw by February 18, it planned to maintain a presence in five specific locations in Lebanon—an assertion that Beirut has categorically rejected.
The situation remains precarious as both sides navigate the complexities of the ceasefire and the persistent threat of renewed hostilities.
