The Israeli military has warned Lebanese civilians to avoid returning to 60 villages in southern Lebanon, just days into a ceasefire following more than a year of conflict with the Shia militant group Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a map outlining a several-mile-deep zone that it declared unsafe, cautioning that anyone entering the area would be at risk.
The fighting displaced over a million Lebanese, primarily from the south, and tens of thousands of Israelis. The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S. and France, went into effect on Wednesday morning, but both Israel and Lebanon have accused each other of violations.
On Thursday, the IDF reported launching artillery and airstrikes against targets in southern Lebanon, citing activity at Hezbollah weapons facilities and vehicle movements it deemed breaches of the truce. Meanwhile, Lebanon accused Israel of “multiple violations” of the agreement and vowed to monitor the situation.
Ceasefire Oversight and Terms
A multinational monitoring group, including representatives from the U.S., France, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been established to oversee compliance. Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon as the Lebanese army takes control, prohibiting other armed groups in the region. This process is expected to be completed within 60 days.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in an interview that the truce “can be short” if Hezbollah commits a “massive violation,” instructing the IDF to prepare for “intensive war” if necessary.
Ongoing Impact of the Conflict
The conflict began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in response to Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel a day earlier, which killed about 1,200 people. Hezbollah stated that its actions were in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza.
Since the escalation, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire. The Lebanese health ministry reports at least 3,961 deaths and 16,520 injuries from Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Israeli authorities say Hezbollah attacks have killed 31 soldiers and 45 civilians, with an additional 45 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon.
The situation remains precarious as both sides continue to accuse each other of ceasefire violations, and the risk of renewed hostilities looms large.
