BRUSSELS: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the ceasefire in Lebanon was “holding” as Lebanon accused Israel of repeatedly violating the truce since it went into effect a week ago.
“The ceasefire is holding, and we are using the mechanism that was established when any concerns have arisen about any alleged or purported violations,” Blinken told journalists on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels.
Both Israel and Hezbollah face accusations of having breached the truce that took effect last Wednesday to end a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and sparked mass displacements.
“I think fundamentally, both parties, that is to say, Israel and Hezbollah, through the Lebanese government, wanted and continue to want the ceasefire,” said Blinken.
“But we have to make sure that it’s upheld. And we’re determined to do that,” he added.
A committee including France, UN peacekeepers, Israel, Lebanon and chaired by the United States is tasked with maintaining communication between the various parties and ensuring violations are identified and dealt with to avoid any escalation.
“The mechanism that we established with France to make sure that the ceasefire is effectively monitored and implemented is working, and we want to make sure it continues to work,” Blinken said.
“If there are concerns that one party or the other is violating the ceasefire, it comes to us, and one way or another, we engage the parties. That’s exactly what’s happened,” he added.
Israel stepped up its campaign in south Lebanon in late September after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah.
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Deadly Israeli air strikes and a mortar attack by Hezbollah have raised fears that the ceasefire in Lebanon could collapse.
Lebanon has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire.
Ten people were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday night, the health ministry said, after Israel carried out its biggest wave of air strikes since both sides agreed last week to end 14 months of conflict, BBC reported.
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah fighters, launchers and infrastructure and urged Lebanese authorities to prevent what it called the group’s “hostile activity”.
Hezbollah had earlier fired two mortars at an Israeli army base in the border area, saying they were a warning over “repeated violations” by Israel, BBC reported.
