On Thursday, Israeli military spokesman Avichai Adlai announced that Israel had targeted over 100 Hezbollah sites across Lebanon, including in the Bekaa Valley and Nabatiyeh.
Adlai stated, “Hezbollah breached the ceasefire aiming to protect its military capabilities, and we retaliated decisively.”
Hezbollah, with backing from Iran, denied any infringement of the ceasefire. They claimed Israel was the one amplifying ceasefire breaches, committing atrocities, and trying to encroach on previously inaccessible areas.
Later on Thursday, Hezbollah acknowledged launching an assault on Israeli forces moving south of Nabatiyeh, resulting in the death of four Israeli soldiers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to safeguard northern communities.
“Israel will not stand for any aggression against our soldiers or our land,” he asserted.
Iran expressed that they wouldn’t continue with the ceasefire negotiations unless there were “guarantees for an end to hostilities in Lebanon as per the signed agreement.” They withdrew from upcoming talks in Switzerland, citing Israeli actions in Lebanon as the cause.
In a statement on Friday, Netanyahu extended “deepest condolences” to the families of the soldiers lost to Hezbollah. He declared, “Their blood must be avenged.”
“After Hezbollah’s despicable attack, which clearly violated the ceasefire, I directed the Israel Defense Forces to strike Hezbollah forcefully.”
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would impose significant consequences on Hezbollah for their aggression.
“As previously mentioned, Israel will maintain its security presence in southern Lebanon for as long as needed to protect its northern settlements,” he added.
Netanyahu indicated that over 80 Hezbollah sites had been targeted, later updated by Adlai to 100. By Friday, Netanyahu remarked that the IDF had aggressively assaulted 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in numerous terrorist casualties.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported at least 47 deaths and 97 injuries from Israeli airstrikes on Friday. They clarified that these figures do not differentiate between civilian casualties and Hezbollah fighters, mentioning that at least seven women and two children were among those deceased.
Later on Friday, a new ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hezbollah, effective at 4pm local time (9am ET). An anonymous Gulf diplomat indicated that this ceasefire was “mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Iran.”
