December 3, 2024: In a sharp escalation of tensions amid a fragile ceasefire, Israel conducted new airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon on Tuesday, raising fears that the fragile truce brokered by the U.S. and France could soon collapse.

The Israeli military confirmed that its airstrike targeted a "terrorist cell" in the Bekaa Valley, a region in eastern Lebanon long known as a stronghold of Hezbollah militants. While Israel has not launched a full-scale attack since the ceasefire took effect on November 27, the recent strike marks a significant breach of the uneasy calm that has held between the two sides.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire agreement, which was intended to end the worst fighting between them in years. According to Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, who has acted as a mediator in ceasefire talks, Israel has violated the truce more than 50 times since its implementation. Hezbollah, in turn, has also conducted attacks on Israeli positions, further fueling tensions.

In addition to the airstrike in Lebanon, there were reports of an Israeli airstrike near Damascus, Syria, near the international airport. Israeli military sources did not immediately comment on the strike, but such actions are often part of Israel's broader campaign against Iranian-backed groups operating in Syria and Lebanon.

Despite ongoing violations from both sides, Israel has adamantly rejected accusations of breaching the ceasefire, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning that any further breakdown of the truce would result in a significant shift in Israeli military strategy. Katz suggested that, should the ceasefire collapse, Israel would no longer differentiate between Hezbollah fighters and the Lebanese military, signaling a potential expansion of the conflict to include the Lebanese state.

“Lebanon must authorize its army to enforce the truce, push Hezbollah back beyond the Litani River, and dismantle their infrastructure,” Katz said in a statement to The Times of Israel. “If Lebanon fails to act, and the truce fails, Israel will treat the Lebanese state as an enemy and will target all of Beirut, not just Hezbollah's strongholds."

Katz's comments mark a departure from Israel’s previous stance, which had stressed that its war was specifically with Hezbollah and not with the Lebanese government or its civilian population. Should the situation deteriorate further, it raises the prospect of Israel expanding its military operations beyond Hezbollah's strongholds to target Lebanese state infrastructure and civilian areas, including the capital, Beirut.

The ceasefire brokered by the United States and France was initially hailed as a victory for diplomacy, though its survival now hinges on both sides adhering to its terms. With continued violations, there are increasing concerns that the region could be on the brink of renewed conflict, with dire consequences for Lebanon, Israel, and the broader Middle East.