BBC reports: “Hours after Hezbollah fired two mortar shells at an Israeli military outpost on Monday, Israel carried out its largest series of air strikes since the truce came into effect. Nine people were killed in two villages in southern Lebanon.”

“Hezbollah said its mortar attack – the first operation which it had announced since the ceasefire came into effect last Wednesday – was a ‘warning’ in response to repeated violations by Israel. It launched the missiles after Israel fired artillery shells and conducted at least four air strikes that killed two people, Lebanese media reported. The Israeli army did not report any casualties from the mortar attack on its position in the sensitive Shebaa Farms area – along the border of Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.”

In fact, despite world opinion, Israel faces no strong pressure to strictly abide by the ceasefire should it see opportunities to significantly advance it goals. Hezbollah’s pin-pricks are no match for Israeli strikes. And Washington has proved unwilling to draw the reins on Tel Aviv. Also see:

– Middle East Monitor, Israel breached Lebanon ceasefire 100 times, UNIFIL source says

– CNN, Israel threatens to ‘go deeper’ into Lebanon as strikes strain ceasefire