Ceasefire Violations Continue as Northern Residents Demand Answers

Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire continued on Sunday, with two Hezbollah drones falling near the border inside Israel after rocket fire toward Metula the night before. Both incidents ended without casualties, but northern residents said that was only due to luck and accused Israel’s political and military leadership of failing to respond forcefully enough.

In response, the IDF Arabic spokesperson issued an urgent evacuation warning to residents of southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah had violated the ceasefire and that the army would act against it with force. The message told civilians to leave their homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River, warning that anyone near Hezbollah operatives, facilities, or weapons was endangering their life.

Political reactions were also sharp. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the shooting at northern communities was a test of the “Dahieh equation” announced by the prime minister, and called on him to apply it “with determination and force” and “bring down buildings in Dahieh today.” He added that Israel was in “critical days” for shaping the region for years and had promised security to northern residents.

Local leaders in the north also lashed out. Metula council head David Azoulay said both the night and morning incidents crossed “the border of Israel” and “the red line of our security,” accusing officials of staying silent despite 12 interceptions. The article also notes recent Israeli statements that Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza, while reports in the Lebanese press said a possible U.S.-Iran deal could include an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and a full end to Israeli military activity there. Meanwhile, the IDF said last week it had completed a major operation in the southern Lebanon village of Dabin, 12 kilometers inside Lebanon, striking more than 50 targets, destroying dozens of terror sites, finding weapon depots, and killing more than 30 militants.