Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would respond “vigorously” after Hezbollah fired rockets at a watchtower. This was the group’s first attack on Israel since a ceasefire came into effect last week.

Hezbollah fired two rockets near a watchtower in occupied Shebaa Farms on Monday. They landed in an open field and caused no injuries. In a statement, the group said the attack on the watchtowers was a “first defensive response” against “repeated violations” by Israel of the ceasefire agreement.

Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Lebanon since Wednesday, killing at least three people. These were allegedly attacks on Hezbollah elements that violated the ceasefire. Israeli media reported on Sunday that France, which is tasked with overseeing implementation of the agreement, had accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement 52 times since its founding.

The resumption of attacks in southern Lebanon and northern Israel has raised concerns that fighting between Hezbollah and Israel could resume just five days after a ceasefire was announced.

The ceasefire requires Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters to clear the area south of the Litani River, about 18 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border, within 60 days. The deal ended 13 months of fighting that began after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel on October 8, 2023, “in solidarity” with Hamas’s attack a day earlier.

In Lebanon, fighting has taken a heavy toll: almost 4,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks, more than 1 million people have been displaced and £6.7 billion in damage has been caused in the last 13 months. Residents of southern Lebanon were just beginning to return to their homes this week and begin repairs. More than 60,000 people are still displaced by Hezbollah rockets in northern Israel.

A central point of contention in the ceasefire revolved around Israel’s right to unilaterally enforce ceasefire violations. Israel has asked the US for assurances that it could take action against Hezbollah if the Lebanese army fails to prevent Hezbollah from operating in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah stated that Israel had no right to carry out attacks in Lebanon or fly its aircraft in Lebanese airspace, saying this was an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Wednesday that the group was ready to respond if Israel violated the ceasefire, saying the ceasefire agreement recognized “the right of both parties to self-defense.”