The militant group Hezbollah has rejected the new agreement. Israel has once again launched attacks in southern Lebanon, resulting in one fatality in the region, according to the country’s health ministry. This attack occurred just one day after Israel and Lebanon signed an agreement aimed at paving the way for long-term peace, as reported by the BBC online. Lebanon’s state news agency reported that an Israeli drone struck the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the south. Subsequently, reports emerged of several other attacks in the area, leaving at least two more people injured.
The Israeli military stated that the drone strike targeted an individual who posed a threat to their forces, though they did not disclose the person’s identity or further details. Meanwhile, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah did not participate in the discussions for the US-brokered agreement and has rejected the deal. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem condemned the agreement, accusing the Beirut government of undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Washington-brokered deal as historic and a major blow to both Iran and Hezbollah.
Under this four-point framework, Israel is to withdraw its troops from the area south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese army assuming full control of the vacated territory. However, the agreement allows Israeli forces to maintain a presence within an expanded security zone in southern Lebanon. On Saturday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem alleged that the Lebanese government had made damaging concessions. He described the Washington-brokered framework as humiliating, shameful, and tantamount to a surrender of sovereignty, declaring the agreement null and void. Qassem specifically criticized the provision linking the disarmament of Hezbollah to the withdrawal of Israeli troops, stating that it crossed all their “red lines.” Accusing Lebanese authorities of making a grave error, he stated that this decision could even pave the way for the territory to be annexed by Israel.
He further declared that Hezbollah would continue its armed resistance. Later on Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli troops had been ordered to prepare for a prolonged presence in the security zone in southern Lebanon. The security zone he referred to extends approximately 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory. Lebanon became directly involved in the conflict after the Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched a missile attack on Israel on March 2. Hezbollah stated that the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader. In response, Israel launched extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and initiated a ground offensive in the south. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, at least 4,192 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the current round of conflict began.
Additionally, Lebanon claims that over 11,600 people have been injured and more than 1.2 million displaced. Conversely, according to Israeli figures, 36 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in the cross-border conflict. Although a ceasefire mediated by the United States had previously come into effect between Israel and Lebanon on April 16, it failed to halt the hostilities. Later, in June, the two countries agreed to renew a fragile ceasefire. At that time, the United States announced it would assist in establishing “pilot zones” where the Lebanese Armed Forces would exercise sole security control, free from the presence of any non-state armed groups.
