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Israel said it struck targets in Lebanon on Monday evening after vowing to retaliate for an attack by Hezbollah on a military post, with both sides accusing each other of violating last week’s ceasefire.<\/p>\n
At least nine people were killed by Israeli strikes on two southern Lebanese villages, according to the country’s public health ministry.<\/p>\n
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck Hezbollah targets and infrastructure “throughout Lebanon”, while reiterating its commitment to the ceasefire agreement. <\/p>\n
Hezbollah said it was responding to Israeli “violations” and said it carried out a “defensive warning” strike, firing mortars at an Israeli army position in an area occupied by Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Israel said there were no injuries in Hezbollah’s strikes on the Mount Dov area – a disputed region on the Israel-Lebanon border known internationally as Shebaa Farms.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Hezbollah attack as “a severe violation of the ceasefire”, vowing that Israel would “respond forcefully”.<\/p>\n
When the ceasefire deal was first announced, Netanyahu said his country would not hesitate to strike if Hezbollah broke the terms.<\/p>\n
Monday’s violence is an indication of the fragility of the recently agreed truce, aimed at ending 13 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
Last week, the US and France said the agreement would \u201ccease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations operating from Lebanon\u201d.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah has been given 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon while Israeli forces must withdraw from the area over the same period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n