Israel has continued strikes

Israel has continued strikes on Lebanon despite negotiating a ceasefire

By Rupert Neate

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) briefly suspended strikes on Lebanon after agreeing a ceasefire on April 16. However, it soon re-started attacks on what it said were Hezbollah targets, claiming they were “defensive operations” which were allowed under the US-brokered truce.

The number of attacks has been building over recent weeks.

In the week to May 31, the IDF carried out 514 waves of airstrikes in Lebanon, according to the Alma Research and Education Center, an independent non-profit specializing in security challenges on Israel’s northern border. That continued the upward trend from 328 waves of strikes the previous week, a 57% increase.

The Israeli military has struck the Lebanese capital, Beirut, twice since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into force on April 16. The most recent strike occurred last Thursday.

The number of Hezbollah attacks against Israel and IDF forces have also been increasing. In the week to May 31, Hezbollah carried out 227 waves of attacks against Israel and IDF forces, according to Alma Research. That was a 41% increase on the previous week.

The latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel after the US and Israel began the war against Iran. Hezbollah is Iran’s most powerful regional proxy.

More than 3,400 people in Lebanon have been killed in the latest conflict, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Its figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced.

Israel says 24 of its soldiers and four Israeli civilians have been killed over the same period on both sides of the border.

A previous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah had been in place since 27 November, and was mostly well observed by both sides.