Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian The United States is increasing pressure on Israel to prevent the collapse of its ceasefire agreement with Lebano

As tit-for-tat strikes strain a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah less than a week since it went into effect, Israel’s defense minister on Tuesday threatened to directly target the Lebanese state should the agreement fall apart.

Israel hits Lebanon with its largest wave of airstrikes since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, as both sides accuse each other of violations.

The Israeli military says Hezbollah has fired into a disputed border zone, its first attack since a ceasefire took hold last week. It comes after Hezbollah accused Israel of violating the truce with airstrikes and shelling in Lebanon.

Israeli strikes killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said Monday, the deadliest day since a ceasefire brokered by the United States and France came into effect last week.

The Israeli military said on Monday it struck dozens of targets throughout Lebanon, shortly after Hezbollah accused Israel of violating a ceasefire agreement and fired missiles on an Israeli military position in the disputed Shebaa Farms area.

The rebel offensive in Syria started after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a cease-fire in Lebanon, where conflict has weakened key backers of Syria’s government.

Israel issued a warning at Lebanon that it will not long distinguish between Beirut and Hezbollah should the cease-fire between Jerusalem and the terrorist group collapse following an exchange of strikes.