Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Israel continues to launch strikes against Hezbollah despite preparing to hold official talks with the Lebanese government.
On March 11, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched two separate strikes against members of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The strike hit a car between the towns of Deir Zahrani and Humin al-Fawqa in the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon. The IDF said in a statement that the target was a commander in Hezbollah’s air defense unit. He was identified by the military as Hassan Abbas Izzedine.
According to the IDF, Izzedine was a “significant source of knowledge” in Hezbollah’s aerial defense unit and led attempts to rebuild the unit’s infrastructure that was decimated during the war. Izzedine also worked to procure new equipment for the unit, which posed a threat to Israeli military aircraft, the military added.
Another Israeli strike in southern Lebanon targeted a group of Hezbollah operatives who were identified at a facility belonging to the group, the IDF said.
Click to see full-size image.
Click to see full-size image.
Despite the attacks on Hezbollah, Israel and Lebanon agreed to open negotiations to delineate the border between the two countries, the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on March 11.
The two sides also announced that three joint working groups would be established after a four-way meeting with the United States and France at the United Nations peacekeeping force headquarters in the town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon.
The teams will focus on the five points Israel still occupies inside of Lebanon, the Blue Line that marks the separation liner between Israel and Lebanon, the points that are under dispute, and Lebanese citizens held by Israel.
In addition, Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had agreed to release five Lebanese detainees as a “gesture to the new Lebanese president,” Joseph Aoun, noting that the release is coordinated with the U.S.
The Lebanese Presidency confirmed that the country had received the four Lebanese “hostages” from Israel, with a fifth to be handed over on March 12. Axios reported that one of the Lebanese nationals released by Israel is a member of Hezbollah. Some 11 other citizens are reportedly still being held in Israel.
A ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. last November was supposed to end all clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border by February 18. However, the IDF continues to operate against Hezbollah under the pretext of neutralizing threats to Israel security. The group went into the conflict with Israel more than 14 months ago to support the Gaza Strip and took heavy losses.
Any agreement between Israel and Lebanon will sideline Hezbollah, further weakening the political stance of the group. Still, it wont likely object.
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western ideology supported by macron,britain and erdogan attack and destroy then negotiate.that is what zelenski did to be found innocent for ceasefire regrouping deal
us will never go for ceasefire or peace agreement if attack by iraq,yemen or syria.their always retaliate with gangster france,canada,britain,italy and australia
why is us not withdrawing from syria,iraq,japan and germany.their are scared to be attack again.why is there no european peace keepers there.their feel humiliated.
if you not jewish and live in the middle east you are hezbollah or hamas to israel . this justifies any and all genocides of the innocent . the hasbara is sickening .