Hezbollah warns of response to Israeli violations as ceasefire teeter

Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem has issued a stark warning that Israeli forces will not remain in Lebanon and that the Lebanese group will respond to any violation of the shaky ceasefire, raising tensions just days after a truce took effect.

Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem has issued a stark warning that Israeli forces will not remain in Lebanon and that the Lebanese group will respond to any violation of the shaky ceasefire, raising tensions just days after a truce took effect.

His statements, reported by Al Jazeera, come as Israeli officials have made clear that troops are free to act without restriction to eliminate threats in Lebanon, despite the agreed ceasefire that took effect on Friday. The competing declarations underscore the fragility of the ceasefire and the risk of a rapid return to full-scale hostilities.

“We will respond to any violation from Israel,” Qassem declared, signaling that Hezbollah remains prepared to defend Lebanese territory against what it perceives as Israeli aggression. The Hezbollah chief’s warning reflects the group’s longstanding position that it will not tolerate Israeli military presence or operations in southern Lebanon, regardless of any diplomatic agreements.

The ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, was a key condition for the start of the 60-day US-Iran negotiating period under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. However, the truce has been repeatedly tested by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, which have continued despite the agreement. Lebanese state media has reported multiple Israeli air strikes and drone attacks targeting the Nabatieh area, with residential buildings destroyed and civilians injured.

Israeli officials have justified the continued strikes by citing the need to eliminate Hezbollah threats along the border. The Israeli military has maintained that its forces retain the right to act against any militant activity, even during the ceasefire. This position has created a fundamental disconnect between the Israeli interpretation of the truce and Hezbollah’s expectations.

Qassem’s warning also highlights the broader challenge facing the US-Iran diplomatic framework. The ceasefire in Lebanon was intended to de-escalate the broader conflict, but the continued violence on the ground threatens to undermine the negotiations in Switzerland. If Hezbollah follows through on its threat to respond to Israeli violations, the region could quickly return to the cycle of tit-for-tat attacks that preceded the agreement.

The situation remains precarious. Both Hezbollah and Israel have demonstrated their willingness to use force to protect their interests, and the ceasefire has done little to resolve the underlying grievances that fuel the conflict. As US and Iranian envoys continue their talks in Burgenstock, the violence on the ground serves as a stark reminder of what is at stake. For now, the ceasefire holds but Qassem’s warning suggests it could break at any moment.