Tensions escalated in southern Lebanon on Tuesday after an Israeli drone strike resulted in the death of one individual, as confirmed by Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding the stability of a precarious ceasefire that has only been in place for six days between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Public Health, the attack specifically targeted the town of Shebaa, a small area adjacent to the disputed Golan Heights. State-run media identified the deceased as a shepherd; however, additional details regarding his identity were not immediately accessible.
This strike was not an isolated occurrence. Lebanese state media reported that Israeli forces conducted several other drone and artillery assaults in the vicinity, which has heightened fears that the truce might unravel.
Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister): “Enforcing the Ceasefire With an Iron Fist.” He addressed the ongoing situation during a cabinet meeting in Nahariya, a northern city near the Lebanese border. Netanyahu adopted a defiant stance, asserting his commitment to enforcing the ceasefire, while simultaneously warning of severe repercussions for any violations.
“We are enforcing this ceasefire with an iron fist,” Netanyahu said. “This is not the end of the war. It’s a ceasefire, and we will continue to act decisively against any threats.”
Netanyahu’s comments followed earlier warnings from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who said that if the ceasefire collapses, Israel’s military campaign could expand to include attacks on the Lebanese state itself—not just Hezbollah.
The ceasefire, which came into effect last week after weeks of heavy exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, has been shaky from the start. Both sides have accused each other of minor violations, but Tuesday’s strikes mark the most significant escalation since the agreement was reached.
Read the stories of people in Lebanon: Civilian residents have been living on tenterhooks with many fearing the conflict might escalate to another large-scale war. For those in towns such as Shebaa, the drone and artillery attacks are a deadly reminder of how the situation may escalate with a blink of an eye.
“I don’t know if we should call this a ceasefire,” one of the locals said in an interview with a Lebanese television station. This is because everyday, we hear drones flying and feel the vibrations from the artillery fire some distance away. It doesn’t feel like peace.”
Regional Concerns
That is the latest step, which was made due to concern on the possible outbreak of a larger conflict in the area. At least the powerful armed group which has direct links with Iran has said it will defend itself and retaliate for any attack from Israel. At the same time, representatives of the Israeli authorities continue to claim that their strikes are purely retaliatory and are carried out to defend their territory.
In Lebanon, the government has also appealed for calm and urged the international community to force Israel to abide by the ceasefire. On the other hand, the United Nations has urged both parties to avoid any steps that may cause conflict to start again.
For the time being the cease-fire remains fragile at best and any single strike or armed conflict is just a push away from rolling the region back into the ‘eye of the storm’. As one observer in Beirut put it: “If this is the kind of cease fire, what happens if there is a break?”
