Hezbollah says clashing with Israeli forces in south Lebanon over alleged accord violations

Hezbollah announced on Thursday that its fighters are engaged in clashes with an Israeli army unit attempting to advance in southern Lebanon. The group stated the confrontations began at 5:30 p.m. local time when an Israeli unit tried to advance from the town of Arnoun toward the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh governorate.

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appropriate weaponry

Hezbollah reported its fighters used "appropriate weaponry" to counter the incursion, framing the action as part of its "Ashura operations." This timing coincides with the current Shiite commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The Shiite group justified the operation as a response to what it called continuous Israeli ceasefire violations, asserting it was an exercise of its right to resist occupation and defend Lebanese territory.

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mutual security

These clashes follow a digital memorandum of understanding signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which extended the cessation of hostilities to Lebanon. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday that the army would maintain a "security zone" in occupied southern Lebanese territories, from which Israel would not withdraw as long as security needs demanded it. Earlier, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted that "mutual security" must be the "limit for negotiations" between Israel and Lebanon, urging the use of the Iran-U.S. peace agreement to "expel" Israel and restore sovereignty.

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expel