Hezbollah has announced it conducted a “defensive warning strike” on an Israeli military position located in the contested Shebaa Farms region, citing ongoing Israeli ceasefire violations that include airstrikes and shelling in Lebanon.
The Israeli military reported that Hezbollah fired two missiles, resulting in no casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would respond “strongly” to the assault.
Earlier, Lebanon’s state-operated National News Agency (NNA) indicated that Israeli forces had discharged two artillery shells towards the southern Lebanese town of Beit Lif in the Bint Jbeil area, while heavy machine gun fire was directed at Yaroun.
No injuries were reported in these incidents, according to NNA, but another Israeli strike resulted in injuries in the town of Talousa.
Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah last week; however, the conflict in Gaza persists.
The truce, which took effect on 27 November, specifies that Israel will refrain from conducting offensive military operations against civilian, military, or other state targets in Lebanon. In return, Lebanon will prevent any armed groups, including Hezbollah, from undertaking operations against Israel.
Lebanon and Israel have already exchanged accusations regarding breaches, with Lebanon asserting that the violations have turned deadly.
A fatality occurred due to an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, approximately 10 km from Israel’s northern border, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry.
According to Lebanese state security, an Israeli drone strike resulted in the death of a member of its force while on duty in Nabatieh, located 12 km from the border. State security condemned this as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire.
The Lebanese army also reported that an Israeli drone struck an army bulldozer in northeast Lebanon close to the border with Syria, injuring one soldier.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to inquiries concerning the incidents in Marjayoun and Nabatieh.
It issued a statement claiming it had targeted military vehicles operating near Hezbollah military installations in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and military vehicles close to the Syrian border.
The Israeli military admitted that a Lebanese soldier was injured in one of its attacks, noting that the situation is under review.
Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah and Beirut’s main negotiator in the ceasefire discussions, stated that Lebanon has recorded at least 54 Israeli violations thus far.
In a statement released by his office, Mr. Berri urged the committee responsible for monitoring the ceasefire to “urgently” initiate its work and to “compel” Israel to cease its violations and withdraw troops from Lebanese territory.
The ceasefire arrangement includes a monitoring mechanism overseen by the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon and chaired by the United States, which will “monitor, verify, and assist in ensuring enforcement” of the ceasefire.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denied any breaches of the agreement, asserting that the issue lies with Hezbollah’s movement of weapons and operations south of the Litani River, in violation of last week’s arrangement.
“Israel is committed to the successful implementation of the ceasefire, but we will not accept a return to the situation as it was on 6 October 2023. Should violations occur, Israel will enforce the agreement,” he stated.
Public broadcaster Kan and other Israeli media reported that US envoy Amos Hochstein, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire after weeks of shuttle diplomacy, had cautioned Israel against potential violations.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich remarked that Israel needs to deliver a “powerful blow” to Hezbollah after it reportedly made a “big mistake” by firing into Israeli territory.
Children walk past buildings that were destroyed during Israeli attacks on Beirut.
Gaza has the highest number of child amputees – UN
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that Gaza now has “the highest number of child amputees per capita anywhere in the world,” with “many losing limbs and undergoing surgeries without even anesthesia.”
In remarks delivered on his behalf at a Cairo conference aimed at increasing humanitarian aid, Mr. Guterres called upon the international community to “establish a foundation for sustainable peace in Gaza and throughout the Middle East.”
The UN Chief described the condition in war-torn Gaza as “appalling and apocalyptic,” warning that the circumstances faced by Palestinians in the region could represent the “gravest international crimes.”
The conflict in Gaza erupted following an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, leading to 1,208 deaths, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory actions have resulted in the deaths of 44,446 individuals in Gaza, according to its health ministry, including 37 fatalities in the past 24 hours.
Mr. Guterres emphasized the devastating impact of the conflict and the urgent necessity for international intervention.
“Malnutrition is rampant… Famine is imminent.”
“At the same time, the health system has collapsed,” he added.
The Secretary-General also condemned the severe restrictions placed on aid delivery, labeling current levels as “grossly insufficient.”
According to UNRWA, only 65 aid trucks per day have been able to enter Gaza in the past month, compared to a pre-war average of 500.
Delegates from around the world are pictured during a humanitarian conference for Gaza in Cairo.
International aid organizations have consistently raised alarms regarding the deteriorating situation in Gaza, cautioning that civilians are on the verge of famine.
They have reported that aid shipments reaching Gaza are currently at their lowest since the onset of the conflict.
Israel, which imposed a total siege on the Hamas-controlled territory early in the conflict, has attributed aid-related issues to what it describes as the incapacity of relief organizations to manage and distribute large volumes of aid.
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Mr. Guterres asserted that the blockade of aid to Gaza “is not a crisis of logistics” but instead “a crisis of political will and a failure to respect fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.”
UNRWA reported that all of its attempts to deliver aid into northern Gaza had been either “denied” or “impeded” between 6 October and 25 November amid intense fighting in the region.
Mr. Guterres stated that UNRWA serves as an “irreplaceable lifeline for millions of Palestinians,” adding that “if UNRWA is forced to cease operations, the responsibility for replacing its essential services would fall on Israel.”
Israeli forces targeted residential buildings in nighttime assaults in northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 individuals in one of the buildings in the town of Beit Lahiya, according to Palestinian medical personnel.
