The recent cease-fire agreement in Lebanon, brokered by the U.S., is struggling to hold. On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes persisted in southern Lebanon, coupled with Hezbollah’s rocket attacks. This continued conflict highlighted the vulnerabilities of the new deal, initiated just a day earlier.

The agreement requires Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, to withdraw from the Lebanese region bordering Israel and stop its attacks. Israel is not bound to any immediate concessions, and without Hezbollah’s involvement in the negotiations, Lebanon’s government is powerless to enforce compliance.

In a statement, Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, dismissed the agreement. He characterized it as a demand for surrender while Israel’s military operations continued. He insisted that any cease-fire must include an end to Israel’s military actions and a withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories since the invasion in March.

Hezbollah confirmed it launched rocket and drone attacks in the border area. Likewise, Israeli airstrikes continued unabated in southern Lebanon. This development underscores the cease-fire’s limited impact on the military activities and the lives of civilians in the region.