Flouting ceasefire, Israeli army said it hit Hezbollah-linked sites in southern Lebanon

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – Again violating a months-long ceasefire, Israeli fighter jets on Friday evening pummeled military sites in southern Lebanon it says were linked to the group Hezbollah.

“The Israeli army struck military sites containing rocket and missile launchers and weapons storage facilities in southern Lebanon using fighter jets,” the military said in a statement.

The Israeli attack came amid its ongoing attacks on Iran, after Israel last week launched airstrikes on several Iranian sites, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November, which ended months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 217 victims and injuries to more than 500.​​​​​​​

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.