The Israeli military carried out airstrikes early this morning in southern Lebanon, signaling that Israel does not consider the recent US-Iran ceasefire agreement to apply to Lebanon.
Soon after the ceasefire announcement, Israeli jets targeted the cities of Tyre and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. The strikes have raised concerns about a possible widening of the conflict beyond the original terms of the agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that the deal includes the ongoing tensions with the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. He made it clear that Israel’s operations related to Hezbollah are separate from the ceasefire understanding with Iran.
So far, there has been no official response from the Lebanese government or Hezbollah regarding the latest strikes. However, Pakistan, which acted as a mediator in the agreement, has stated that Lebanon is part of the ceasefire arrangement.
Recent reports suggested that Hezbollah had asked Iran to ensure the group would be included in any future agreement. Meanwhile, Israel has indicated that it is establishing a security buffer zone along the border inside Lebanese territory.
Israeli troops have reportedly entered parts of Lebanon, raising fears that the situation could escalate further and possibly lead to Israeli control over certain areas near the border.
