Paris has reportedly logged 52 instances of Israeli ceasefire violations since Wednesday, according to Ynet.
French officials privately cautioned Israel on Sunday, citing concerns that continued breaches of the US-mediated ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon could jeopardize the fragile truce, according to multiple Israeli news sources.
Ynet reported that Paris documented at least 52 alleged violations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), resulting in the deaths of at least three Lebanese civilians. French authorities also reportedly voiced apprehension over renewed low-altitude Israeli drone flights over Beirut.
Paris reportedly informed Jerusalem that the IDF struck what it claimed were Hezbollah targets without consulting the international monitoring committee overseeing the truce, urging Israel to exercise restraint and allow Lebanon to fulfill its obligations. Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that Paris also accused Hezbollah of truce violations.
“The Lebanese are fully committed to upholding the ceasefire and preventing Hezbollah from re-establishing its presence in southern Lebanon, but they need time to demonstrate this,” a French official stated, according to Ynet.
Jerusalem defended its actions, asserting that the international monitoring committee would not be fully operational until early next week. Until then, Israel would respond forcefully to any perceived Hezbollah violations, Israeli officials reportedly said.
Separately, The Times of Israel reported on Sunday that Israeli actions were allegedly “in line” with a purported US “side letter,” permitting Jerusalem to use force against any renewed “threats.” Specifically, Israel was reportedly authorized to act whenever it deemed the terms of the deal breached in southern Lebanon. The report added that Jerusalem should still notify the US of any actions taken against targets within Lebanon.
The US-brokered truce between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on Wednesday. On Friday, both sides accused each other of violations following an Israeli military strike on a facility allegedly used by the Lebanese movement in southern Lebanon.
The IDF also struck targets in Syrian territory near the Lebanese border multiple times in recent days, claiming the targeted facilities were used by Hezbollah to transport weapons from Syria into Lebanon. The Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported on Wednesday that one such Israeli airstrike killed six Syrians, including military personnel and a humanitarian worker.