Israel strikes S. Lebanon following Hezbollah mortar fire

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said it launched strikes in southern Lebanon on Monday night in response to Hezbollah's mortar fire on an Israeli post near the Lebanese border earlier in the day.

In a statement, the military said the strikes targeted Hezbollah militants, dozens of launchers, and infrastructure throughout Lebanon, including the launcher in the area of Berghoz in southern Lebanon, from which two Hezbollah mortars were launched.

Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 12 TV reported that the strikes targeted the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. Photos circulating on social media show a large plume of smoke rising above buildings in the targeted area.

Hezbollah on Monday claimed responsibility for a mortar attack aimed at Israeli military positions in the Ruwaisat al-Alam site, located in southern Lebanon's Kfarchouba hills. The Lebanese armed group described this assault as retaliation for "repeated Israeli violations" of the ceasefire agreement that began last week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah's mortar attack was "a violation of the ceasefire agreement" between Israel and Lebanon and vowed retaliation for every breach.

The Israeli military said Israel "demands that the relevant parties in Lebanon fulfill their responsibilities and prevent Hezbollah's hostile activity from within Lebanese territory."

Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's Political Council, slammed on Monday Israel's ceasefire violations, calling on countries supervising the deal to assume their responsibilities by pressuring Israel to stop its breaches.

"Hezbollah does not want the return or expansion of the war. Hezbollah has been respecting the agreement, and countries supervising the deal shall bear responsibilities for these violations, which no one can bear," Qomati said in an interview with Lebanese TV channel Al-Jadeed.

"We were committed to this agreement for the past five days, but have found around 54 violations by Israel," Qomati said, adding, "We accepted this agreement on the condition that both parties respect it."

Also on Monday, the Lebanese Red Cross and official sources reported that four people were killed and three others injured in Israeli attacks on the municipality of Talloussah, the town of Marjeyoun, and the village of Aainata in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Israeli drones are seen flying at a low altitude over Lebanon's capital Beirut, reported a Xinhua correspondent stationed there.

A ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, went into effect on Nov. 27, aiming to halt nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the agreement, both sides agreed to a 60-day cessation of hostilities, with Israel gradually withdrawing its forces from south Lebanon and Hezbollah retreating north of the Litani River.

Despite the truce, tensions remain high as both sides exchange accusations of ceasefire violations, raising concerns about the agreement's durability.