Israeli soldiers open fire on Lebanese civilians: Ceasefire in jeopardy

According to the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon, Israel was required to withdraw from the regions it occupied today (January 26). The Israeli army, which has not begun its withdrawal, killed 15 Lebanese people who were attempting to return to their homes. While Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked for trust regarding the withdrawal, he stated that 'their sovereignty is not a matter for debate.'

The ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on November 27, 2024, and the agreement stipulated that the Israeli army must withdraw from the occupied regions within 60 days.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that 15 people were killed and 83 others were injured in the Israeli army's attacks.

The specified period expired at 04:00 local time on January 26, yet Israeli forces continue their presence in Lebanon. It had been reported that Israel has violated the ceasefire 659 times since the agreement was reached.

In the war between Israel and Lebanon, the Israeli army failed to gain control of most of the regions it claimed to be targeting in Lebanon

CEASEFIRE BETWEEN HEZBOLLAH AND ISRAEL

Following Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the controlled clashes that began between the Tel Aviv administration and Hezbollah on October 8 intensified in September 2024. Increasing its attacks on Lebanon in September, Israel occupied some regions through ground operations.

Israel assassinated Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Dahiyeh, known as a Hezbollah stronghold in the south of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on January 2, and Fuad Shukr, the 'right-hand man' of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, on July 30.

Nasrallah was killed on September 27 as a result of heavy bombardment by the Israeli army, again in the Dahiyeh region. Hashem Safieddine, known as Nasrallah's cousin and successor, lost his life in an Israeli attack on October 3.

Since October 2024, the Israeli army has occupied the area south of Lebanon's Litani River and deployed its soldiers in the region. Following the clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, a ceasefire agreement was made between Lebanon and Israel that went into effect on November 27.

Accordingly, it is envisioned that the Israeli army will gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days, and that Hezbollah elements will be disarmed and move to the north of the Litani River.

According to official Lebanese data, in a country with an estimated population of around 5 million, approximately 1.9 million people have been forcibly displaced due to the clashes, and more than 40 thousand homes have been destroyed.

Lebanese people claimed that Israel destroyed infrastructure and residential areas in the regions it was forced to leave

ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION CONTINUES

Even after the ceasefire agreement, Israel continued to carry out attacks on residential areas and homes, primarily in the southern regions of Lebanon, under the pretext of 'combating the Hezbollah threat.'

In a statement on January 24, the Israeli army argued that the withdrawal process from southern Lebanon would take more than 60 days and that this situation had been communicated in the agreement, announcing that it would not be able to complete the full withdrawal on January 26.

Meanwhile, Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council in the US, called for the urgent extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in his meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on January 25, called for the necessary measures to be taken for the ceasefire agreement.

In Israeli attacks, 3,823 people have been killed, including approximately 960 women and children and 222 healthcare workers, and 15,859 people have been injured.

News Source: AA