Hezbollah fired two shells into Israeli-controlled territory on Monday (December 2), marking the first time the militant group has attacked Israel since the ceasefire agreement took effect last week. Hezbollah claimed they were responding to multiple Israeli attacks, while both sides are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah fired two shells on Monday, both landing in open areas with no reported injuries. The Israeli military did not specify the type of shells fired by Hezbollah.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect last Wednesday, requiring a 60-day cessation of hostilities aimed at ending over a year of conflict between the two parties. Hezbollah had been targeting Israel since last October’s Hamas attack on Israel, triggering the Gaza war, in support of its ally Hamas, also backed by Iran.
However, since the second day of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has conducted daily airstrikes on Hezbollah, accusing the militant group of breaking the ceasefire.
Hezbollah has also made similar accusations. In a statement on Monday, the organization stated that after Israel repeatedly violated the ceasefire, Hezbollah fired at Israeli military positions as a “defensive and warning response.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently stated that Hezbollah’s attack “seriously violates” the ceasefire agreement and vowed that “Israel will respond strongly”.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah has 60 days to withdraw fighters and infrastructure from southern Lebanon to north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border. During this period, Israeli forces will also withdraw to their side of the border.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a video statement that when Hezbollah militants attempt to move weapons in southern Lebanon, Israel will respond with force.
He stated, “Their presence south of the Litani River is the most fundamental violation of the agreement… they must immediately move north.”