Lebanon and Israel Clash Over Army-Hezbollah Ties

A recent incident has sparked a heated debate between Lebanon and Israel. An Israeli airstrike near Sidon killed a Lebanese soldier, but Israel claims the man had ties to Hezbollah. They say he was part of a group working to rebuild Hezbollah's infrastructure and even accused him of being a double agent in the Lebanese army. Lebanon strongly denies these accusations. The Lebanese army confirmed that Warrant Officer Ali Abdullah was killed in the strike, but they insist he had no links to Hezbollah. The defense ministry called the claims a "malicious attack" on their institution, and a Hezbollah official also denied any connection between the group and the army.This isn't the first time Israel has accused Hezbollah of rebuilding military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. They say it violates the agreements governing the border. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to maintain a fragile truce between the two sides. The truce, agreed upon in November 2024, ended over a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. It required Hezbollah to disarm, starting from areas near the border. The Lebanese army says they are close to completing the first phase of their plan to implement this agreement. A committee overseeing the truce is focusing on returning displaced civilians to their homes. However, there are concerns that tensions could rise if a year-end deadline to disarm Hezbollah is not met. The situation remains delicate, with both sides accusing the other of violating the agreed-upon terms.