Ceasefire Crumbles As Israeli Forces Push Into Southern Lebanon

In a move that further strains an already fragile truce, Israeli forces have crossed into southern Lebanon, according to a military statement released on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

The incursion, described as a series of “special, targeted operations,” aimed to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and prevent the group from reestablishing a foothold in the border area.

The operation is the latest in a string of near-daily breaches of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed upon in November 2024 between Israel and the Lebanese armed group.

The Israeli military claimed the action was based on “intelligence information” that pointed to the presence of Hezbollah weapons and operational sites in several parts of southern Lebanon.

The military said its 9th Brigade was deployed in the Labbouneh region, while the 300th Brigade was active in Jabal Blat, a location further west.

Both areas are located close to the Israeli-Lebanese border and are visible from Israeli territory.

Accompanying the announcement was a video reportedly showing Israeli troops operating under the cover of night in southern Lebanon.

The footage highlighted ground maneuvers conducted by the 9th Brigade.

The army did not confirm whether this marked the first ground operation in Lebanon since the ceasefire was established late last year.

The ceasefire agreement aimed to end more than a year of confrontations, which escalated into months of full-scale conflict.

Despite the agreement, Israel has continued to launch regular airstrikes throughout Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut.

While Israeli officials claim these attacks are aimed at Hezbollah weapons caches and militant positions, the strikes have resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of residential areas.

The announcement of the new ground operation came amid a broader intensification of Israeli military activity across Lebanon.

With Hezbollah reportedly weakened, the Lebanese army choosing not to engage, and international efforts to uphold the ceasefire largely absent, Israel has escalated its campaign with little external restraint.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly appealed to both the United States and Israel to halt the attacks.

His calls, however, appear to have gone unheeded.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, recently reiterated the group’s position during a speech in Beirut’s southern suburbs for Ashura, a significant Shia religious event.

Qassem said Hezbollah remains committed to defending Lebanese sovereignty and would not lay down arms while Israel continues its aggression.

“We cannot be asked to soften our stance or lay down arms while [Israeli] aggression continues,” he told supporters.

Under the terms of the November truce, Hezbollah was expected to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border.

In return, Israel was to pull its forces entirely out of Lebanese territory.

However, Israel has maintained a military presence in five strategic locations, citing national security concerns.

Meanwhile, U.S. efforts to mediate the conflict have continued.

Thomas Barrack, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and current U.S. ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy for Syria, visiting Beirut this week.

Barrack praised the Lebanese government for its measured response to a new American proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah.

Since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023, Israel has also broadened its military campaign in Lebanon to target members of Palestinian factions, particularly within refugee camps.

On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle near Tripoli in northern Lebanon, killing at least three people and injuring 13 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Israel later confirmed that the strike had killed Mehran Mustafa Ba’jur, identifying him as a high-ranking Hamas commander operating in Lebanon.

This marked the first targeted killing in northern Lebanon since the ceasefire agreement, underscoring the wide geographic scope of Israel’s ongoing military operations.

As tensions continue to rise, the prospects for long-term peace between Israel and Lebanon appear increasingly uncertain.

Both sides reportedly digging into entrenched positions and civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.

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