Sat Nov 30 12:33:16 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hezbollah in Syria Amid Fragile Ceasefire
**TEL AVIV, November 30, 2024** – Israel launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting Hezbollah weapons smuggling sites along the Syria-Lebanon border, the Israeli military announced. This action represents a challenge to the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, established just days ago after months of intense fighting.
The military stated the strikes aimed at sites used to transport weapons from Syria into Lebanon, a violation of the ceasefire agreement. While there was no immediate response from Syrian authorities or Hezbollah, the incident marks a continuation of escalating tensions. Israeli aircraft have repeatedly targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon since the ceasefire began on Wednesday, November 27th, citing breaches of the agreement.
The ceasefire, brokered by the US and France, covers only the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and does not extend to the ongoing war in Gaza. Separately, an Israeli strike in Gaza killed five people on Saturday, including three employees of the World Central Kitchen (WCK), according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted a vehicle carrying a militant involved in the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack. They are investigating the reported links to WCK, noting the vehicle was unmarked and hadn’t coordinated with the military, unlike other aid organizations. This incident follows a previous Israeli strike in April that mistakenly killed seven WCK workers.
Adding to regional instability, insurgents launched a surprise offensive in Syria, capturing Aleppo, the country’s largest city. The two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah mandates Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River and the return of Israeli forces to their side of the border. Despite the ceasefire, both sides have accused each other of violations.
Amidst the ongoing violence, many Lebanese displaced by the conflict are returning home, despite warnings from both militaries to avoid certain areas. Reports also indicate an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon. Israel maintains its right to retaliate against perceived ceasefire breaches. The return of displaced Israelis remains a key objective for Israel, though concerns remain about the possibility of further Hezbollah attacks.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on October 8th, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas’s attack on Israel. The war has resulted in over 3,760 deaths in Lebanon and over 70 in Israel, including numerous civilians. The Gaza conflict, triggered by the Hamas attack in October 2023, has already claimed over 44,000 Palestinian lives.
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