Beirut, July 16 (RHC)-- The Hezbollah resistance movement has issued a strong warning after Israeli airstrikes killed at least a dozen people in eastern Lebanon in the deadliest attack since a November ceasefire took hold.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hezbollah said the attack marked “a major escalation in the context of the ongoing aggression against Lebanon and its people.” The resistance movement called on the Lebanese government to break the silence and “take serious, immediate and decisive action” to uphold the ceasefire deal with Israel.
The movement also demanded that the United States, Israel's main backer, live up to its responsibility as the guarantor of the ceasefire. "The U.S., as a guarantor of the ceasefire agreement, has evaded its obligations and instead advanced initiatives that serve only the interests and security of the Israeli enemy."
Hezbollah pointed out that the US attempts to deceive the Lebanese people by portraying itself as a supporter of Lebanon’s stability, security, and unity, while in reality, it unleashes the Israeli enemy to wreak destruction and death across Lebanon.
The movement warned that the continued absence of an official and effective stance will only lead to further escalation and aggression. “In the absence of an official, strong and effective position, and the continuing negligence and inaction internationally, will only lead to more violations and aggression,” Hezbollah said.
Elsewhere in the statement, the Lebanese group reaffirmed the criminal nature of the enemy, which disregards international law and conventions and does not hesitate to commit massacres against innocent civilians.
Israel is trying to press on Lebanon’s “national will”, but the Lebanese people will “hold on to resistance as a choice to confront the enemy,” it said.
The statement came hours after Israeli warplanes on Tuesday intensified their strikes against Lebanon, launching a wave of deadly air raids in the northern Bekaa Valley. The airstrikes left a dozen people dead in the Bekaa region, including seven Syrians near al-Hermel city.
The attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, marking one of the most dangerous developments in recent days. One of the strikes occurred near a school while students were taking exams.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, which came into effect on November 27, 2024. Ever since, the regime has violated the ceasefire more than 3700 times by launching assaults on the country.
Under the agreement, Israel was obligated to fully withdraw its forces from Lebanon. However, it has maintained a military presence in five areas, in clear violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the terms of last November’s agreement.
Israeli air raids in recent days have also extended to Beirut’s outskirts and northern cities, causing civilian casualties. Lebanese authorities have repeatedly warned that the regime’s violations of the ceasefire agreement threaten stability in the country.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and NEWS AGENCIES ]
