The U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the first phase of a broader peace plan, officially started at noon local time on Friday. This marks a significant pause in a conflict that has devastated Gaza over the past two years. As part of the agreement, Israeli troops have started to withdraw to agreed-upon lines, and a 72-hour window has opened for Hamas to release all remaining hostages.However, as Palestinians in Gaza cautiously returned to the ruins of their homes, the focus shifted to Israel's northern frontier. Early Saturday morning, Israel carried out intense airstrikes in southern Lebanon.The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted a location where heavy machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, was storedIsrael alleges these vehicles were being used by Hezbollah to rebuild its "terror infrastructure," a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached with Lebanon in November 2024.The pre-dawn strikes in the village of Msayleh killed one person, identified as a Syrian citizen, and wounded seven others, including two women The attack also reportedly destroyed around 300 vehicles.The timing of the airstrikes has drawn sharp criticism. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack as a "heinous Israeli aggression against civilian installations," highlighting that its seriousness “lies in the fact that it comes after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.”Since the end of the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024, Israel has conducted almost daily airstrikes in Lebanon.Israel maintains these actions are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming and rebuilding its military capabilities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has carried out over 500 airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since the ceasefire, killing over 300 operatives.The Gaza peace plan, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, has been met with a mix of hope and skepticism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the cabinet's approval of the "outline" of the deal.However, key issues such as the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza are not addressed in this initial phase.While the international community welcomes the pause in fighting in Gaza, the continued Israeli military action in Lebanon underscores the complexities and broader instability of the region.
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