Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire largely holding, but some fighting continues

 

Israeli soldiers patrol the perimeter of the agricultural settlement of Avivim, next to the Lebanese border, in upper Galilee, Israel, Dec. 2, 2024.

The days-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon appears to be largely holding, but some fighting is continuing.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said Monday that an Israeli strike killed one person in southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese military said another attack wounded a soldier in the eastern part of the country.

Israel said it has launched strikes against targets where it said militants were violating the truce.

On Monday, Hezbollah claimed its first attack since the truce took effect, targeting an Israeli position in Kfar Shouba, which is located in a disputed territory on the Lebanon-Israel border.

The Israeli army said Hezbollah launched two projectiles toward the area of Har Dov, Israel\’s term for the disputed Shebaa Farms.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed a "harsh response" to the Hezbollah rocket launch.

"We promised to act against any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah — and that\’s exactly what we will do. Hezbollah\’s fire toward an [Israeli army] post on Mount Dov will be met with a harsh response," Katz said on X.

Thick smoke rises from explosions as Israeli forces reportedly demolish dwellings in the border town of Khiam in southern Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2024, days into a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The latest fighting came days after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, bringing a halt to 14 months of fighting that erupted following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hezbollah ally Hamas on Israel.

During its attack, Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. There are still about 100 hostages being held in Gaza, with about one-third believed to be dead.

Israeli officials announced Monday that Omer Neutra, an Israeli American soldier who was presumed captured in the 2023 attack, is now believed to have been killed.

The Israeli military did not detail what new information it may have to make the new determination.

In a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were “devastated and outraged” to learn of Neutra’s killing, saying he had visited with Neutra’s parents less than a month ago.

To the families of those still held hostage in Gaza, Biden said, “We see you. We are with you. And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement that the country’s hearts are with Neutra’s family.

“We must fulfill the ultimate imperative: to return Omer and all our abducted men and women — the living to their families, and the fallen and murdered to be laid to rest,” Herzog said.

In its counteroffensive in Gaza, Israel has killed more than 44,400 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish in its death toll between civilians and combatants. Israel, without providing evidence, says it has killed more than 17,000 militants.

A top U.S. national security official said Sunday that a ceasefire in Gaza is now “more likely” following the ceasefire reached in Lebanon.

VOA News

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By：VOA