Israel opens fire in Lebanon at ‘suspects’ allegedly violating truce, which has entered its second day

The Israel Defense Forces opened fire Thursday at “suspects” in southern Lebanon that allegedly violated the terms of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. 

IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X that “in the past hour, a number of suspects were observed arriving, some of them in vehicles, to several areas in southern Lebanon, which constitutes a violation of the agreement.” 

The Israeli and Lebanese militaries have warned displaced Lebanese not to return to evacuated villages in southern Lebanon – where Israeli troops are still present following their ground invasion in early October – until the forces withdraw. The deal, brokered by the U.S. and France and approved by Israel late Tuesday, calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border.

“IDF forces opened fire at them,” Adraee said. He later added that “terrorist activity was detected inside a Hezbollah terrorist site that contained medium-range rockets in southern Lebanon” and that “the threat was thwarted by a warplane strike.”

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Adraee also posted a map on X of a zone running along the Israel-Lebanon border that Lebanese residents should stay away from for the time being. 

“The IDF does not intend to target you, and therefore, at this stage, you are prohibited from returning to your homes from this line south until further notice,” Adraee added. “Anyone who moves south of this line – exposes himself to danger.” 

Israeli tanks struck six areas within that region Thursday morning, wounding two people, Reuters reported, citing Lebanese state media and security sources. 

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is in its second day, with the Lebanese terrorist group saying that its fighters “remain fully equipped to deal with the aspirations and assaults of the Israeli enemy” and will monitor the withdrawal of IDF troops “with their hands on the trigger,” according to Reuters. 

The conflict in Lebanon began when Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, initiated strikes into Israel’s north after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Since the back-and-forth began, Israel has killed many of Hezbollah’s leaders, in addition to degrading its infrastructure in Lebanon.  

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By ending the conflict with Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would stand alone in the Gaza Strip, clearing the way for Israeli forces to recover the remaining hostages there. 

Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war first started to return home Wednesday as the ceasefire began to take hold, driving cars stacked with personal belongings, according to The Associated Press. 

“We don’t care about the rubble or destruction. We lost our livelihood, our properties, but it’s OK, it will all come back,” said Fatima Hanifa, a resident who lives near Beirut. 

On Thursday, more than 4,000 people crossed back into Lebanon along its northeastern border with Syria, the AP reported. The United Nations estimates that around 600,000 people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon since the beginning of the conflict. 

“We have been in Syria since Sept. 23, we had to leave our jobs, our homes and our loved ones because of the war,”  Hasan Fliti, a 54-year-old dairy shop owner who is returning to Lebanon with his wife and two children, said to the news agency. “I am happy that there is a ceasefire and there is no more destruction. You are not afraid anymore of the airstrikes to hit.”

In Israel, the mood reportedly was subdued, with displaced Israelis concerned that Hezbollah had not been defeated and that there was no progress toward returning hostages held in Gaza. 

“I think it is still not safe to return to our homes because Hezbollah is still close to us,” Eliyahu Maman, who was displaced from the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, which was hit hard by the months of fighting, told the AP. 

Fox News’ Danielle Wallace, Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.