Israel and Hezbollah Resume Fighting Despite Ceasefire... Death Toll Reaches 2,509

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[The Financial News] Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, which had agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the U.S. for about a month, have effectively resumed fighting.
According to the National News Agency (NNA) on the 26th (local time), the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on Kfar Tebnit and other areas in southern Lebanon using fighter jets. NNA reported that at least one person was killed and three others were injured in the strikes. On the same day, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for Mayfadoun, Shukin, Kfar Tebnit, and other areas north of the security zone in southern Lebanon. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli military, warned residents to evacuate at least 1 kilometer away, saying, "The military has no choice but to respond forcefully to Hezbollah's ceasefire violations."
That day, Hezbollah also launched a suicide drone attack targeting Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said one soldier was killed and six others were injured in the strike. Hezbollah also sent three drones toward northern Israel, but all were shot down over the skies near Western Galilee before crossing the border.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah joined the war in the Gaza Strip in 2023 and attacked Israel, before agreeing to a ceasefire in 2024. After the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February, Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel from the 2nd of last month. In response, Israel expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon and bombed major cities. The Government of Lebanon, which does not control Hezbollah, began initial peace talks with Israel on the 14th through U.S. mediation and agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting on the 17th. In an announcement on the 23rd, U.S. President Donald John Trump said the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon would be extended for three weeks.
Hezbollah has argued that the continued presence of Israeli ground troops in southern Lebanon itself constitutes a ceasefire violation, and it has continued limited exchanges of fire with Israel since the ceasefire took effect on the 18th.
In his opening remarks at a weekly Cabinet meeting on the 26th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "It must be made clear that Hezbollah's ceasefire violations are effectively dismantling the ceasefire agreement." He added that Israel has the right to respond to Hezbollah's threats even during the ceasefire, saying, "We are acting forcefully in accordance with the terms agreed upon with the U.S. and also with the Lebanese side."
In response, Hezbollah issued a statement the same day, stressing that "the attacks on targets in southern Lebanon and northern Israel are a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent ceasefire violations, which began on the first day the temporary ceasefire was announced."
The Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon announced on the 26th that the cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since the 2nd of last month had risen to 2,509. The number of injured was also put at at least 7,755.
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pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter