Israel Destroys Hezbollah Missile Site, Ceasefire Holds in Lebanon

Israel Destroys Hezbollah's Missile Site, Ceasefire Holds

The Israeli military announced the destruction of Hezbollah's "largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site" as a ceasefire between the two sides entered its third day. The announcement came as part of a 60-day agreement that will see both Hezbollah and Israeli forces withdraw from south Lebanon, with the Lebanese military stepping in to fill the void.

The IDF stated that the site, located near the Syria-Lebanon border, was 1.4km wide and 70m underground. It housed the production of precision-guided missiles and surface-to-surface missiles, among other components of Hezbollah's arsenal.

Despite agreeing to cooperate with the ceasefire, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah reiterated the group's commitment to defending Lebanon against Israel. He emphasized that Hezbollah would continue its role in resisting any attacks, stating, "When Israel attacks our country, we will fight and resist. This is our right."

The ceasefire comes amidst a severe financial crisis in Lebanon, which has led to troops quitting their jobs or taking on extra work to make ends meet. The agreement aims to address this by enabling Lebanon to recruit and deploy an additional 10,000 troops south of the Litani River.

The international community pledged $1 billion in aid for Lebanon at a donor conference in Paris last month, with $800 million earmarked for humanitarian assistance and $200 million for supporting the army. However, aid groups report that none of this funding has materialized yet.

The IDF continues to warn Lebanese residents to stay away from a border region where Israeli troops remain present following their ground operation in early October. The IDF spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, emphasized the importance of adhering to these restrictions to avoid any danger.