Israeli Drone Strike in Southern Lebanon Challenges Ceasefire Agreement
An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, occurring less than an hour after President Trump's announcement of a ceasefire, has raised concerns about the truce's stability.
Less than an hour after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, an Israeli drone strike reportedly killed at least one person in southern Lebanon. Lebanese media reported that the drone targeted a motorcycle between the towns of Khounine and Beit Yahoun. The Israel Defense Forces have not commented on the incident.
The Lebanese Army reported multiple violations of the ceasefire within hours of its commencement at midnight local time on Friday, including intermittent shelling targeting several villages. Lebanon's National News Agency noted that an Israeli strike on an ambulance in Khounine resulted in multiple casualties among medical workers.
Since early March, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths, according to Lebanese health officials, and displaced over 1.2 million people. President Trump stated that under the new ceasefire framework, "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!"
The U.S. State Department clarified that the agreement allows Israel "the right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks." However, it remains unclear what imminent threat prompted Friday's strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that, despite the ceasefire, Israel will continue its occupation of southern Lebanon. Satellite images show extensive destruction in the region, with several towns and villages razed. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described these actions as a continuation of the "Gaza model."
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued a warning to displaced Lebanese civilians, advising them not to return to their homes south of the Litani River "until further notice." Despite this, thousands have begun returning, only to find their villages reduced to rubble.
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, emphasized the importance of maintaining the ceasefire:
"This fragile truce must not be undermined. We cannot afford a repeat of the ineffective 2024 ceasefire, which saw countless violations. Worryingly, there are already reports of violations by the Israeli army, which also issued a warning against civilians returning to their homes south of the Litani river, home to hundreds of thousands of people. For this ceasefire to be meaningful for civilians, it must lead to a real and durable halt in hostilities."