Israel commits further violations of ceasefire in Lebanon on the pretext of “self-defense”

Since the ceasefire deal took effect last November, IOF has committed repeated violations which have resulted in the death of civilians and extensive destruction.

January 13, 2025 by Aseel Saleh
Destruction in Southern Lebanon. Photo: UNIFIL

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) announced early Monday, January 13, that its fighter jets struck and destroyed multiple targets belonging to Hezbollah across Lebanon. IOF said that these targets include a rocket launcher site, a military site, and routes allegedly utilized to transfer weapons to Hezbollah on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

Israel claimed that those targets “posed threats to its homefront”, adding that those in charge of monitoring the implementation of the international mechanism set up as part of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, were informed about the threats prior to the strikes, but “the threats weren’t addressed.” The IOF further reaffirmed that it “will operate to prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to rebuild its forces in accordance with the ceasefire understandings.”

Earlier on Sunday, Lebanese media reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the outskirts of Janta village in eastern Baalbek city, and Houmin al-Fawqa village near Nabatieh city in southern Lebanon, without mentioning whether the attacks left casualties.

Israel has repeatedly violated the 60-day ceasefire deal with Lebanon which came into force last November. As per the deal, the United States joined an already existing tripartite mechanism, which involves representatives from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Israel, and Lebanon.

The representatives have been in charge of monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire deal, in addition to guaranteeing that Hezbollah’s infrastructure or weaponry is removed from the area and cannot be rebuilt. This term was set in line with the UN resolution 1701, which stipulates that areas south of the Litani river should be free of any armed personnel or weapons other than those of the Lebanese state and the UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL). This in turn means that any presence of IOF troops, or any assault launched by Israel within relevant areas is a flagrant violation of the ceasefire deal.

In its repeated violations of the ceasefire deal, Israel has not limited its airstrikes to the areas south of Litani, which already killed several civilians in Lebanon. In addition, IOF reportedly launched stun grenades toward the town of Ayta Al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, attempting to intimidate civilians entering the area.

A serious environmental aggression by the IOF was also documented by a videographer with Al-Manar news network on Monday, January 13, when Israeli bulldozers accompanied by a tank were uprooting ancient oak trees in Yaroun forest, in Nabatieh.

Due to Israel’s continuous breaches of the ceasefire deal the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) decided on Monday to delay the deployment of its units in the towns located in central southern Lebanon, according to Al-Manar news network. However, LAF will supposedly resume deploying its troops in around 48 hours in preparation for the return of the civilians to their home regions.

Although Israel struck targets that are said to be belonging to Hezbollah on the pretext of self-defense, the killing of civilians and the deliberate demolition of infrastructure, and environment symbols that represent the history and civilization of the Lebanese people, is yet another evidence of Israel’s ethnic cleansing policy.