Lebanon: Israel fires at suspects violating truce on second day

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces fired at individuals in southern Lebanon who were suspected of breaching the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.

Avichay Adraee, the IDF Arabic Spokesperson, stated on X that a group of suspects arrived in vehicles to several areas in southern Lebanon within the past hour, which is a violation of the agreement.

The Israeli and Lebanese militaries have advised displaced Lebanese not to return to evacuated villages in southern Lebanon until Israeli troops withdraw, as per the two-month ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. and France and approved by Israel on Tuesday.

"IDF forces opened fire on them," Adraee stated. "IDF forces in southern Lebanon are enforcing any violation of the ceasefire agreement."

A map of a zone along the Israel-Lebanon border that Lebanese residents should avoid was also posted by him.

""At this stage, you are prohibited from returning to your homes from this line south until further notice, as the IDF does not intend to target you and anyone who moves south of this line exposes himself to danger," Adraee stated."

According to Reuters, two people were injured when Israeli tanks targeted six areas in the region on Thursday morning, as reported by Lebanese state media and security sources.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is ongoing, with Hezbollah stating that its fighters are prepared to defend against any Israeli attacks and will closely monitor the withdrawal of IDF troops, ready to respond if necessary, according to Reuters.

The conflict in Lebanon started in October 2023 when Hezbollah, supported by Iran, launched attacks on Israel's north in response to Hamas' attack on Israel. Since then, Israel has killed several Hezbollah leaders and damaged its infrastructure in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that with the resolution of the conflict with Hezbollah, Hamas would be isolated in the Gaza Strip, allowing Israeli forces to retrieve the remaining hostages.

According to The Associated Press, thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war returned home Wednesday as the ceasefire started to take hold, driving cars stacked with personal belongings.

"Mohammed Kaafarani, who was displaced from the Lebanese village of Bidias, told the AP that the 60 days were 'nasty and ugly.' He added, 'We reached a point where there was no place to hide.'"

Fatima Hanifa, a resident living near Beirut, stated that they do not care about the rubble or destruction, as they have lost their livelihood and properties. Despite this, she remains optimistic and believes that everything will eventually return to normal.

In Israel, there was a subdued mood among displaced Israelis who were worried that Hezbollah had not been defeated and that there was no progress towards returning hostages held in Gaza.

According to Eliyahu Maman, who was displaced from Kiryat Shmona, it is not safe to return home yet because Hezbollah is still close.

This report was contributed to by Danielle Wallace of Planet Chronicle, Louis Casiano, and The Associated Press.