BEIRUT, Lebanon, Jan 13, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Israel carried out air strikes in 
Lebanon Sunday, targeting areas in the east and south according to Lebanese 
state media, with the Israeli military saying it hit Hezbollah targets 
including smuggling routes along the border with Syria.

The air strikes placed further strain on a fragile ceasefire between Israel 
and the Iran-backed militant group, which came into effect on November 27.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Israeli aircraft targeted the 
outskirts of Janta in the eastern Baalbek region as well as areas near 
Nabatieh in the south. It did not say whether there were casualties.

The Israeli military said it struck a number of targets it had presented to 
ceasefire monitors as threats.

"Among the targets struck were a rocket launcher site, a military site, and 
routes along the Syria-Lebanon border used to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah," 
it said.

The strikes come just two weeks before the January 26 deadline for 
implementing the November ceasefire, which both sides have accused the other 
of violating.

The Israeli military statement said it was operating "in accordance with the 
ceasefire understandings".

Under the terms of the deal, Hezbollah is to dismantle its remaining military 
infrastructure in the south and pull its forces back north of the Litani 
River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon this month accused Israel of a "flagrant 
violation" of the Security Council resolution which forms the basis of the 
ceasefire.

Israeli strikes in south Lebanon killed five people on Friday, according to 
the Lebanese health ministry, with the Israeli military saying it targeted a 
Hezbollah weapons truck.