The ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese political and militant group Hezbollah is on shaky ground following an Israeli air-strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs March 28. It was the first strike on Lebanon’s capital since a pause in hostilities came into effect on Nov. 27 last year. Israel—which has bombed southern Lebanon almost daily despite the ceasefire—said it was retaliating for a rocket attack into northern Israel. (TNH)
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned March 29 that if Israel continues to carry out strikes in Lebanon, and the Lebanese government does not act to stop it, then his organization will take matters into its own hands. In a speech marking Quds Day, Qassem insisted that Hezbollah is still committed to the ceasefire. “We fully complied and we have no presence south of the Litani [river], but Israel did not abide,” Qassem declared. Israel asserts that it has struck dozens of Hezbollah fighters who were operating south of the Litani River since the start of the ceasefire in violation of the terms.
Qassem was supposed to give his speech on Friday, March 28, to mark Quds (Jerusalem) Day, which is usually held on the last Friday of Ramadan. However, it was postponed because of the Israeli air-strikes on Lebanon, including that in southern Beirut. Quds Day commemorations, when Iran and its regional allies organize marches in support of the Palestinians and against Israel, were launched in 1979 by Iran’s revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. (ToI)
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