With one week remaining until the 60-day deadline for implementing the ceasefire, the Israeli army is increasing its violations in the border regions of southern Lebanon.
As part of a ground incursion from the village of Hula (Marjayoun) toward Wadi Saluki, Israel carried out a large-scale combing operation on Saturday, using heavy and medium machine guns. An Israeli bulldozer also conducted a leveling operation on the eastern outskirts of the Khiam plain. Additionally, an incursion of Israeli vehicles was observed, moving from Yaroun towards the Dabch area in Bint Jbeil, where the Israeli army carried out a sweep near a house in the Dabch neighborhood. An infantry force subsequently attacked a house in the same neighborhood, after targeting it with a shell.
In addition, two explosions were heard in the Mays al-Jabal neighborhoods due to an Israeli blasting operation. An Israeli bulldozer also carried out earthworks in the vicinity of Bab al-Thaniyah, east of the Marjayoun plain.
For its part, the Lebanese Army announced that it would detonate unexploded ordnance in Qlayaa (Marjayoun), Taybeh (Baalbeck), Khiam-Marjayoun and Kfar Melki (Saida) between 9 AM and 6 PM on Saturday.
Hezbollah Accuses Israel of ‘Hundreds of Violations’ of the Truce
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem accused Israel on Saturday of “hundreds of violations” of the ceasefire agreement, which came into force on November 27, 2024, warning once again that his party could “lose patience.”
His speech came during UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ stay in Lebanon, ahead of the January 26 deadline for full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
“I call on the Lebanese state to show firmness in the face of these violations, which have exceeded the hundreds. This cannot continue,” said Qassem, in a speech broadcast by Hezbollah's television station, al-Manar.
“We have shown patience with the violations to give the Lebanese state, which is responsible for this agreement, and the international sponsors a chance, but our patience must not be tested,” he added.
The whereabouts of Qassem, who succeeded Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli strike at the end of September in the southern suburbs of Beirut, are unknown.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates that the Lebanese Army is to deploy alongside peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, from which the Israeli army is to withdraw over 60 days, until January 26.
Hezbollah, caretaker of the war, is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, some 30 km from the Lebanese-Israeli border.
On Friday, Guterres, who visited peacekeepers in the south, said that Israel's “occupation” of the area and its military operations must “cease.”
Qassem Hails Gaza Ceasefire
Qassem's comments extended beyond the situation in Lebanon. Hezbollah's Secretary-General paid tribute to the “Resistance fighters and the Palestinian people,” who, he said, had “succeeded in thwarting the Israeli plan.” Illusory victory or mere denial?
In this context, he congratulated “the Palestinian people and the Resistance on the ceasefire agreement,” which is due to come into force at 6:30 AM GMT on Sunday. Considering that there is “no other solution than the attribution of Palestine to its people,” Qassem stressed that “the union of fronts in which Hezbollah is engaged has contributed to the victory in Gaza.”
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