Hezbollah violated the ceasefire on day one

On the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, IDF soldiers detained four Hezbollah terrorists, one of whom was a local leader, in southern Lebanon. These arrests happened because the suspects went into an area they weren't supposed to, breaking the ceasefire rules, as stated by Israel's Prime Minister's Office (PMO). It isn't known what they might have been planning but there seems to be no other reason for this breach of the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed the need to strictly follow the agreement, ordering the IDF to stop any unauthorized movement near the border. The PMO declared, "The IDF will keep taking strong action against any Hezbollah breach of the agreement."

The ceasefire, which began at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, is meant to stop the 14 months of fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border. Under the terms of the deal, the IDF will pull out of southern Lebanon over the next 60 days, and the Lebanese army, as opposed to Hezbollah, will then occupy those areas. U.S. and French representatives are monitoring to make sure everyone sticks to the deal.

An Israeli security official explained that the withdrawal would happen in stages, depending on whether all parties stick to the agreement, the AP reported. "It's a gradual withdrawal," the official noted, stressing that the speed of this process relies on having good enforcement measures in place.

The IDF reported the first violation of the ceasefire just a few hours after it began. Soldiers stopped a vehicle with several suspects in a no-go zone, firing to halt its progress. The people inside ran away, and the situation is still being looked into.

Defense Minister Katz reacted to the event, ordering the IDF to take strong action against any similar incidents. "Hezbollah terrorists must be hit if they enter prohibited areas and endanger Israeli troops," Katz stated.

Hezbollah has launched more than 16,000 rockets, missiles, and drones into Israel since October 2023, which forced nearly 70,000 people from northern Israel to leave their homes. During "Operation Northern Arrows," the IDF moved as far as the Litani River, the furthest they've gone into Lebanon since 2000.

As IDF forces slowly pull back, Lebanese government soldiers are supposed to take over the regions south of the Litani River and make sure Hezbollah pulls back too. The success of this peace deal will hinge on vigilant oversight by the U.S. and France, with ongoing reports from military and diplomatic leaders.

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