Mon Apr 28 20:56:25 UTC 2025: ## Hezbollah Accuses Israel of Violating Lebanon Ceasefire, Calls for Government Action
**BEIRUT** – Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, has accused Israel of violating the November ceasefire in Lebanon, demanding the Lebanese government take action to halt the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. His comments follow an Israeli air strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, the third such attack since the ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli military has admitted to conducting over 50 strikes in Lebanon this month, claiming they are in response to threats against Israel and alleged Hezbollah ceasefire violations. However, Qassem asserted that Hezbollah has fully complied with the truce, placing the onus on the Lebanese government to secure protection for its citizens.
Qassem urged Lebanese officials to pressure the United States, a key broker of the ceasefire, to intervene and force Israel to cease its attacks. He argued that continued Israeli aggression undermines Lebanon’s stability, contradicting US interests in the region. His demands also include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel since the November ceasefire.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun echoed these sentiments, condemning the Israeli strikes as a destabilization tactic and a threat to regional security. Rights groups have also criticized the Israeli actions as violations of the ceasefire agreement.
The recent escalation follows a 14-month war that began after a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, triggering a massive Israeli response. The conflict resulted in thousands of casualties in Lebanon, mostly civilians, according to the Lebanese government, which reported 190 deaths and 485 injuries from Israeli strikes since the ceasefire. The ongoing airstrikes continue to raise tensions in the volatile region.
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