Israel launches airstrike on E. Lebanon despite ceasefire

26/12/2024 6:10

An Israeli airstrike hit a house in eastern Lebanon's Baalbek area on Wednesday, despite a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanese official and military sources said.

The official National News Agency said the dawn strike hit a house in the plain of Taraya village, near the Litani River west of Baalbek, causing no casualties. It accused Israeli warplanes of "violating the ceasefire agreement."

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that Israeli artillery also fired several shells at the village of Maroun al-Ras in the southern border area at noon. The source added that "Israeli elements raised the Israeli flag on the Awaida hill on the southern outskirts of the Marjeyoun district."

A ceasefire, meant to halt nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, came into effect on Nov. 27. The agreement stipulated an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory within 60 days, with the Lebanese army deploying on the border and in the south to assume security control and ban weapons and militants.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has conducted intermittent strikes in Lebanon, some of which have caused casualties. Israel maintains the strikes target Hezbollah militants it accuses of violating the agreement.