By The Cradle

The head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance parliament bloc, Mohammad Raad, slammed the international community’s inaction regarding Israel’s ceasefire violations, stressing the Lebanese people’s “legitimate and sacred” right to confront the Israeli occupation.

Raad’s statement came a day after the Israeli army launched airstrikes on Nabatieh and Zawtar in south Lebanon – one of the deepest attacks since the ceasefire was reached in late November.

“The treacherous and condemned Zionist aggression on the southern towns of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Zawtar last night is a new example of the permanent and ongoing threat posed by the Israeli entity against our people and our country and against the security and stability of all the peoples and countries of our region,” Raad said.

“The chronic international indifference to the transgressions of this usurping entity and its persistence in aggression has led it … bullying, arrogance, and violation of all international and humanitarian rules, standards, and laws,” he added.

Raad went on to say that “the right of our people in Lebanon to confront the occupation and Israeli attacks is a legitimate and sacred right that they exercise at the time and place they deem appropriate to thwart the enemy’s goals and preserve Lebanon’s security, sovereignty and interests.”

He vowed that the “resistant people” of Lebanon “will combine with the efforts of the state and its concerned institutions when they undertake to carry out their duties in protecting the people and the country.”

Israel carried out large attacks on Nabatieh and Zawtar on the evening of 28 January, claiming to target vehicles transporting weapons belonging to the Lebanese resistance. Thirty people were injured in the attacks, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

At least six others were wounded as Israeli troops opened fire at Lebanese civilians attempting to enter the town of Yaroun on Tuesday.

Residents of southern Lebanon border villages who were displaced during the war started returning to their towns on 26 January upon the expiration of the 60-day ceasefire implementation period. Over two dozen Lebanese citizens have been killed since the displaced began returning to their destroyed villages.

Israel was meant to withdraw its troops from south Lebanon during the 60-day period, during which the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) was required to dismantle Hezbollah’s presence and military infrastructure south of the Litani River.

Tel Aviv claims the LAF did not fulfill its commitments, prompting US approval for an extension of the 60-day period until 18 February.

The Lebanese government has condemned Israel’s failure to withdraw but accepted the extension of the implementation period, which will prolong the Israeli presence in south Lebanon.

“We are facing an occupier that assaults and refuses to withdraw, and the Resistance has the right to act as it deems appropriate in terms of the nature, form, and timing of the confrontation,” Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in a speech on 27 January.

Israel has violated the ceasefire over 1,300 times since the agreement was reached. The US-led tripartite mechanism tasked with overseeing ceasefire violations has not held Israel accountable. Israel claims it is acting “in accordance” with the agreement.

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