On June 28 (local time), according to TASS news agency (Russia), the Israeli army announced that it had destroyed an underground infrastructure system used by Hezbollah forces in the town of Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon.
The information was released in a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Katz. According to Israel, the US was informed before the operation took place.
The target of the attack is a tunnel about 200m long underground, believed to be where hundreds of weapons and many Hezbollah missile launchers are stored.
This development occurred just 2 days after Israel and Lebanon reached a security agreement mediated by the United States to de-escalate tensions in the border area.
According to the agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw forces from some positions in southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese army is deployed to take over. However, Israel is still allowed to maintain a presence in an expanded security zone during the transitional period.
Israel believes that destroying Hezbollah's military facilities is necessary to ensure the safety of people living in the northern region of the country.
Earlier on the same day, the Israeli military also announced that it had conducted airstrikes targeting Hezbollah gunmen believed to be carrying anti-tank grenade launchers, and destroyed a missile launcher in the Nabatieh area.
In response, Hezbollah declared Israel's military actions a "serious violation" of the ceasefire agreement that this force is still complying with.
In a statement issued on the morning of June 29, Hezbollah said it is closely monitoring the situation and reserves the right to "protect the country as well as the people of Lebanon".
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem previously also rejected the new security agreement, saying that the document meant Lebanon had to concede to Israel.
He affirmed that Hezbollah forces will continue to maintain armed operations and will not give up the goal of fighting against what they consider to be Israel's military presence in Lebanon.
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed that the country's army will continue to maintain its presence in the security area in southern Lebanon in the coming time.
He said Israel will continue to destroy Hezbollah's military facilities, eliminate threats to the northern community and ensure national security.
The prolonged conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, going hand in hand with larger upheavals in the Middle East, has forced more than one million Lebanese people to leave their homes.
Hezbollah and Iran believe that the US has pledged to promote the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon as part of a memorandum of understanding signed to end the previous regional conflict.
According to TASS, new developments show that the progress of implementing the security agreement between Israel and Lebanon is still facing many challenges, as the parties continue to have disagreements on the role and military presence in southern Lebanon.
