Despite a ceasefire between the US and Iran, violence in Lebanon persists as Hezbollah’s leader demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the country.
Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah operatives have resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals, with four Israeli soldiers, including two officers, sustaining injuries in retaliatory attacks by militants. This ongoing conflict contradicts US President Donald Trump’s 60-day peaceful negotiation agreement.
The situation escalated when the Israeli Defence Force launched an operation at the Ali Taher ridge, where a group of 30 Hezbollah fighters is entrenched in an extensive tunnel network. The IDF’s objective is to prevent Hezbollah members from leaving the underground tunnels or operating in the ridge area. Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, declared Iran’s victory over the US and Israel with the signing of the memorandum of understanding.
Qassem emphasized that Israel must completely withdraw from Lebanese territory and cease all aggressive actions. This development coincided with challenges faced by Trump in implementing the Iran peace deal, which has been marred by turmoil since its inception. The memorandum aimed at maintaining peace in Lebanon was intended to safeguard Hezbollah’s interests as insisted upon by Iran.
However, Israel argued for the necessity of defending itself against Hezbollah’s threat, justifying the presence of a significant number of troops in Lebanon to act as a buffer between Israeli communities along the northern border and Hezbollah forces pushed deep into the region. The United Nations temporarily halted the evacuation of approximately 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a cargo ship by Iran.
Tensions escalated when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran warned against traversing the strait through a specific route designated by the UN’s International Maritime Organization. Despite warnings, the Singapore-flagged vessel, Ever Lovely, continued its journey after being hit by a missile, with no reported injuries to the crew. Several ships, including eight South Korean vessels, have altered their routes to avoid the maritime chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, following the recent US-Iran ceasefire.
In recent days, an estimated 40 to 60 ships have successfully navigated the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key passage between Iran and Oman. Prior to the conflict initiated by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, around 140 vessels traversed the strait. Iran’s naval officials, through the state-run IRNA news agency, stressed that any deviation from the authorized route set by Iran would be considered dangerous and prohibited, with violators facing consequences.
