Lebanese army: Israel ignited fires in residential areas in southern Lebanon

The Lebanese military has reported that Israeli forces have moved into the towns of Qantara and Taybeh, located in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon. During this incursion, the Israeli troops allegedly set fire to several homes, an action said to contravene an existing ceasefire agreement with the Hezbollah resistance movement.

The Lebanese army released a statement on Sunday reporting that Israeli forces have breached the existing ceasefire agreement and violated Lebanese sovereignty by entering the areas of Qantara and Tayba. The statement noted that these hostile actions included the burning of several homes in the aforementioned locations.

In response to the incursion, a joint patrol comprising the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was dispatched to the location for situation monitoring. This operation was conducted in coordination with the quintet committee responsible for overseeing the ceasefire agreement.

Reports indicate that “hostile” forces have initiated a withdrawal from two key areas, prompting the Lebanese army to undertake efforts to reopen roads previously obstructed by Israeli forces. In a continued escalation, the Israeli military has launched new assaults on residential structures in a southern Lebanese town, contravening a recent ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

Israel has consented to a ceasefire with Hezbollah after enduring significant losses over nearly 14 months of conflict in Lebanon, without successfully reaching its strategic objectives.

The ceasefire agreement was implemented on November 27 and is set to remain in effect for a period of 60 days, with the aim of establishing a lasting end to the conflict.

Under the terms of the agreement, an international monitoring committee, led by the United States, has been assigned the responsibility of supervising the enforcement of the ceasefire.

On Saturday, the Israeli military reportedly breached the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah 11 times, raising the total count of Israeli violations to 330 since the previous month.

By the close of Friday, Israeli forces reportedly breached the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon on 319 occasions, citing alleged threats from Hezbollah as the justification for their actions.

The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 32 individuals and left 38 others injured since the ceasefire agreement came into effect.

In response to Israel’s commencement of military operations against Gaza in October 2023, Hezbollah promptly established a supportive front for Palestinians. Just a day after the conflict erupted, the group initiated a series of retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli positions within the occupied territories.