Israel has attacked Lebanon 10,000 times since ceasefire began one-year-ago

One year after theLebanon–Israel ceasefiretook effect on 27 November 2024, the agreement lies in ruins. Its clauses, Lebanese officials say, "remained ink on paper from the Israeli side", as Israel carried out more than ten thousand breaches ranging from air incursions to artillery fire, ground infiltrations, assassinations, and the continued occupation of Lebanese territory.

These violations, documented by Lebanon andUNIFIL, have kept the country in a state of constant instability, with the risk of a return to full-scale war rising sharply in recent weeks.

Israeli threats have intensified, operations have widened, and pressure from Washington has mounted, pushing Lebanon toward what officials now warn could be an "imminent" return to war.

Israel has also refused to withdraw from five strategic hills it continues to occupy in the south, despite the ceasefire's requirement that these positions be handed over within 60 days of the ceasefire coming into effect.

UNIFIL confirms Israel remains entrenched on these heights, expanding fortifications and constructing walls that signal no intention of leaving soon.

Israeli attacks have repeatedly hit Lebanese army positions, UNIFIL patrols, and densely populated civilian areas.

UNIFIL spokeswoman Candice Ardell said the mission had "seen no evidence of Hezbollah military activity" in its area of operations, contradicting Israeli claims used to justify ongoing strikes.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least 331 people have been killed and 945 wounded over the past year, including more than 100 civilians.

Escalation in recent months

Israel has widened its targeting, striking the eastern Bekaa and the southern suburb of Beirut. The latest escalation came on Sunday, when Israel assassinated Hezbollah’s chief of staff and second-in-commandHaytham Tabatabai in Haret Hreik, along with four fighters - the highest-profile killing since last year and the first strike on Beirut in months.

Speaking in the Knesset, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that Israel would "launch a new war on Lebanon if Hezbollah does not hand over its weapons", adding that the US had obliged Hezbollah to hand over its weapons by the end of 2025. "If this does not happen, there will be no avoiding forceful action in Lebanon," he said.

Israel's rhetoric has aligned closely with Washington’s, as both push to accelerate the Lebanese state's disarmament plan, even as Israel's violations make its implementation nearly impossible.

Egypt warns of ‘serious and imminent’ escalation

It comes as Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Beirut on Wednesday carrying a warning that Israel was preparing for a possible escalation before the year's end.

Lebanese officials toldThe New Arab that Abdelatty had warned Lebanon’s leadership of a potential and serious Israeli escalation tied directly to US and Israeli demands that Hezbollah disarm.

After meeting President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Abdelatty said: “We fear any escalation, and we fear for the security and stability of Lebanon.”

Egypt said Israel had informed monitoring states that it was prepared to escalate "without restraint" and was treating year-end as a final deadline for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

According to the message delivered to Beirut, Lebanon is expected to take "serious, concrete and clear steps" or face an unavoidable confrontation.

Lebanese army: implementing the plan under fire

The Lebanese army is officially responsible for implementing the government-approved disarmament plan, but says that Israeli attacks and the ongoing occupation of Lebanese territory have made full compliance impossible.

A senior military source toldThe New Arabthat since the ceasefire, the army had carried out more than 6,000 missions, closed over 25 tunnels, seized more than 8,000 munitions and dismantled at least 50 rocket platforms.

The army has also conducted several operations inside Palestinian camps to confiscate weapons, while expanding its work along the border to combat smuggling and drug trafficking.

Despite these efforts, the source said Israeli attacks had continued to prevent the army from fully deploying south of the Litani River.

"Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and carries out attacks, including strikes on army and UNIFIL positions. These violations remain the main obstacle to implementing the plan," the source said.

Hezbollah: 'We cannot remain spectators forever'

A Hezbollah official toldThe New Arab that the group had fully adhered to the ceasefire, leaving implementation to the state despite deep reservations.

Speaking anonymously, he warned, that the situation was becoming increasingly untenable.

"We do not know how long we can remain spectators while all these Israeli attacks continue and the world does nothing," he said.

The MP criticised the Lebanese government for making major concessions that were met with further Israeli escalation, and argued that Lebanon must reject external pressure and avoid steps "intended to create internal strife - which is exactly what Israel and the Americans want".

Widespread destruction in the south

Hashem Haidar, head of the South Council, toldThe New Arab that entire villages had been completely destroyed as a result of Israeli attacks.

These include Aita al-Shaab; Rmeish and Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil district; Adaisseh, Kfar Kila and Meiss al-Jabal in the Marjayoun district; and Mraihine, Umm al-Tout, al-Dhahira, Yaroun and al-Bustan in the Tyre district.

He said that Israel was enforcing a quasi-buffer zone in these areas, preventing residents from returning and blocking reconstruction work.

According to Haidar, the damage includes an estimated five billion dollars in destroyed homes, businesses and institutions, and around five hundred million dollars in infrastructure losses.

More than 326 vehicles belonging to emergency teams have also been destroyed. He added that despite the danger, Lebanese teams began clearing rubble "from the first day".

• Lebanon-Israel conflict
• Lebanon
• Hezbollah
• Israel