Two killed in south Lebanon as ceasefire comes under strain

Israeli fire killed two people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, according to Lebanon’s state news agency, putting new pressure on a fragile US-brokered ceasefire. Hezbollah called the shooting a truce violation, while Israel said its forces had fired at armed fighters who posed an immediate threat.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said two men were killed and two people were wounded near Nabatieh after Israeli soldiers fired machine guns toward them. The agency said the men were standing near an excavator being used to clear a blocked road.

Al Jazeera reported that the deaths were the first from Israeli fire in Lebanon in three days, after two days of relative calm under a ceasefire that has largely held since Sunday.

Hezbollah described the incident as a “treacherous attack” and a “blatant” breach of the truce. The group did not say whether it would retaliate.

The Israeli military gave a different account, saying it had struck “armed terrorists” in the Ali al-Taher ridge area of southern Lebanon. It said they posed an immediate danger to Israeli soldiers inside an area where Israel has declared a security zone.

Israel says it will keep security zone

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and military chief Eyal Zamir said in a joint statement Tuesday that the military would keep acting to remove threats to Israeli troops and civilians. The statement said Israel would continue demolishing Hezbollah infrastructure and maintain its security zone in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu also said in a video statement that Israel would keep “full freedom of action” in Lebanon. He said his position was firm that Israeli forces would remain in the southern security zone “for as long as is required.”

Lebanon is seeking an Israeli withdrawal from the south, where Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s buffer zone covers about 6 percent of Lebanese territory. Israel says it wants Hezbollah disarmed. Hezbollah says the talks should focus on mutual security and exclude its weapons.

Iran’s Press TV quoted Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s political council, as warning that Hezbollah would respond to any Israeli breach of the ceasefire “in kind.” Press TV quoted him as saying the group was on alert and ready to confront violations.

Washington talks set to resume

A new round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon was due to begin Tuesday in Washington and continue until Thursday, according to Al Jazeera. Lebanon is represented by Ambassador Nada Moawad, while Israel’s delegation is led by Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. US officials are also taking part.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the United States had an obligation to compel Israel to stop attacks on southern Lebanon. He said, according to Al Jazeera, that arrangements to end the war were tied to past and current agreements and that “final arrangements” would be reached in coming days.

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed at least 4,106 people since March 2 and displaced at least 1.2 million. Israel’s toll in the latest conflict with Hezbollah includes at least 32 soldiers and four civilians, according to the report.

Some displaced Lebanese residents remain doubtful that the ceasefire will last. Mohammed Yassin, 60, told Reuters he would return to Hula when the road was open and conditions were safe, but said he did not trust Israel to keep the ceasefire. Suzanne, also 60, told Reuters her family lost its rented home in Beirut’s southern suburbs and did not know where to go.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.