Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire, testing Lebanon truce as talks loom
The incidents are among several that have occurred since a 10-day Lebanon ceasefire came into effect last Thursday
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said it fired rockets and drones into northern Israel on Tuesday, accusing the Israeli military of violating a ceasefire ahead of US-mediated talks between the Israeli and Lebanese governments this week.
The Israeli military earlier said Iran-aligned Hezbollah had fired several rockets towards its troops operating in southern Lebanon, in what it described as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement. It was not immediately clear if the incidents were the same.
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah mediated by Washington came into effect last Thursday, but Israeli forces remain deployed in a belt of Lebanese land 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 miles) deep along the entire border. Israel has said it aims to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group.
Under the truce terms, Israel reserves the right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that troops would use “full force” if threatened.
Hezbollah, in its statement on Tuesday, accused Israel of attacking civilians and destroying homes in breach of the truce. It said it fired at a position in northern Israel that had been striking southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said it struck the launcher from which the rockets were fired, and that sirens in northern Israel were likely sounded after the interception of a drone launched from Lebanon.