IDF strikes Hezbollah ceasefire violations while Lebanese army continues slow deployment

The Israeli army on Tuesday continued its resolute enforcement of ceasefire violations by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, as the overall agreement seems to be holding despite numerous claims of violations on both sides.

The Israel Defense Forces published footage of what it said were Hezbollah operatives transferring weapons from a weapons warehouse in southern Lebanon to a nearby vehicle.

אתמול, זוהו פעילים של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה מעבירים אמצעי לחימה ממחסן אמצעי לחימה בדרום לבנון לרכב סמוך. בסגירת מעגל מהירה הרכב ומחסן אמצעי הלחימה הותקפו מהאוויר להסרת האיום>> pic.twitter.com/b3ro9k2XMf

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 1, 2025

“The vehicle and the ammunition depot were attacked from the air to remove the threat,” the IDF stated, adding that it “continues to be committed to the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon, remains deployed in southern Lebanon and will work to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”

The Lebanese French-language news outlet L’Orient-Le Jour also claimed that the Israeli army fired on a “shepherd” near Rmeish and launched a shell at the outskirts of Shebaa. The IDF has not yet commented on these claims.

Meanwhile, the IDF troops stationed in southern Lebanon have continued to search for the remaining weapon caches of Hezbollah and, in the process, venturing into areas they had not entered during the previous months of fighting.

On Tuesday, the army said IDF soldiers entered the Wadi Salouki area, one of the deepest points they have reached in Lebanese territory during the war. The area is around 10 km (6 miles) west of the Galilee panhandle, and some 20 km (over 12 miles) north of Avivim.

חטיבה 769 איתרה והשמידה מצבור אמצעי לחימה במרחב הסלוקי

לכל הפרטים:https://t.co/sorPpvtKyV pic.twitter.com/9QLMs3EbQ7

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 31, 2024

Troops of the 91st Division located a warehouse hidden in difficult terrain, which was found to contain “a significant stockpile of weapons including launchers, missiles and explosive charges.”

In another raid, they located additional weapons, including rocket launchers, explosive devices, dozens of AK-47 rifles, grenades, electrically guided missiles, mines, observation devices, explosive charges and tactical combat equipment. All of the weapons were confiscated, the military stated.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) continued its deployment in areas the IDF has vacated, amid criticism that its deployment was progressing more slowly than planned.

On Tuesday, the LAF entered the village of Shamaa after Israeli troops withdrew from there.

“Army units took position around the village of Shamaa-Sour, in coordination with UNIFIL and as part of strengthening their deployment in the region. They began entering the village as the Israeli enemy was withdrawing following contacts established by the technical monitoring committee of the cease-fire,” the LAF wrote on 𝕏.

The army said it would complete its deployment once the area was cleared of unexploded munitions and asked citizens to stay away until then.

Also on Tuesday, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu visited the country and lauded the international ceasefire enforcement mechanism, in which France participates.

“This Franco-American mechanism has recorded almost 300 referrals, which clearly shows that it is fully finding its role,” Lecornu told AFPTV, during a visit to a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon. “We are halfway through this ceasefire, with initial results that have been recorded, particularly in the capacity to deconflict and secure,” he added.