Hezbollah repels Israeli force in first operation since Iran-US deal

Hezbollah on Monday said its fighters repelled an Israeli armored force advancing toward a town in southern Lebanon, marking the Lebanese group's first announced military operation since Washington and Tehran announced a framework agreement to end their war.

Military Operation

The group said in a statement it monitored an Israeli force consisting of a bulldozer and two Merkava tanks advancing from the Arnon-Kammasha area toward Al-Maabar on the outskirts of Kfartebnit in Nabatieh province. Hezbollah fighters targeted the advancing column with guided missiles and "Ababil" attack drones, forcing the unit to retreat, the group added, describing the operation as carried out "in defense of Lebanon and its people."

Hezbollah cited what it described as Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire that has held since mid-April.

Political Stance

Earlier on Monday, the group welcomed the US-Iran agreement to end the war between the two countries while reiterating its commitment to defending Lebanon until a full Israeli withdrawal and the return of prisoners are secured. "The Israeli enemy must understand that there is no return to the situation that existed before March 2," Hezbollah said in a separate statement, adding that it would not accept attacks violating Lebanon's sovereignty.

Conflict Background

Since March 2, Israel has conducted a military campaign in Lebanon that has left thousands dead and wounded and displaced more than 1 million people, according to official Lebanese figures. On Sunday, Washington and Tehran announced they had reached a memorandum of understanding with Pakistani mediation aimed at ending the conflict that began after attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. The deal is expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday and will likely launch a 60-day period of technical negotiations on implementing its provisions.