Israeli Strike Eliminates Hezbollah Anti-Tank Commander Despite Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement

Israel continues to conduct bombing operations in Lebanon despite the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. According to Lebanon's health ministry, an Israeli strike targeting a vehicle in southern Lebanon on Saturday resulted in one fatality and one injury.

The ministry stated that the death occurred due to an "Israeli enemy strike on a car in Haruf, Nabatiyeh district." The Israeli military confirmed the operation, identifying the target as Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni, who they claim was "a commander in the anti-tank unit of the Radwan Force Battalion" of Hezbollah.

Israeli forces alleged that Fatouni "was involved in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon." This attack represents the latest in a series of Israeli military operations carried out despite the ceasefire agreement intended to end more than a year of conflict with Hezbollah.

The Israeli military has escalated its operations in the past week, with two separate vehicle strikes on Friday resulting in two fatalities. Military officials stated they eliminated a Hezbollah "logistics commander" in one strike and a member "who was involved in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's military capabilities" in the second.

On Thursday, Israeli raids across southern and eastern Lebanon killed four individuals, including an elderly woman. The Israeli military claimed these operations targeted a weapons depot, a training facility, and military infrastructure.

A United Nations special rapporteur recently told AFP that Israel's deadly strikes on seemingly civilian vehicles in Lebanon could potentially constitute war crimes, regardless of Israel's assertions that these operations targeted Hezbollah members.

The ceasefire agreement signed last year stipulated that Israeli troops would withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah forces would relocate north of the Litani River and dismantle their military infrastructure in the south.

Under pressure from the United States and concerned about potential escalation of Israeli strikes, Lebanon's government has initiated efforts to disarm Hezbollah, a plan that faces opposition from the movement and its allies.

Despite the terms outlined in the truce, Israel has maintained military positions at five strategic border locations.