The United Nations’ peacekeeping force in Lebanon expressed concern on Thursday over the “continuing” damage done by Israeli forces in the country’s south despite a ceasefire in the war against the Hezbollah terror group.

The truce went into effect on November 27, about two months after Israel stepped up its bombing campaign and later sent troops into Lebanon, almost a year after the Iranian proxy started attacking Israeli communities with rockets and drones on October 8, 2023, a day after its ally Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza.

The warring sides have since traded accusations of violating the truce. The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that at least 44 Hezbollah operatives have been killed by the IDF since the ceasefire was reached, arguing they had violated the ceasefire by operating in southern Lebanon or at sites affiliated with Hezbollah.

As part of the truce agreement, the Lebanese army and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers will deploy in southern Lebanon, as the Israeli army pulls out over a period of 60 days.

The IDF under the ceasefire agreement has until late January to withdraw from southern Lebanon, and, in the meantime, it continues to operate against and destroy Hezbollah infrastructure.

UNIFIL said in a statement on Thursday that “there is concern at continuing destruction by the IDF in residential areas, agricultural land and road networks in south Lebanon.”

The statement added that “this is in violation of Resolution 1701,” which was adopted by the UN Security Council and ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

The UN force also reiterated its call for “the timely withdrawal” of Israeli troops from Lebanon, and “the full implementation of Resolution 1701.”

The resolution states that Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only forces in southern Lebanon, and also calls for Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanese territory.

The agreement was not enforced following its passage in 2006, allowing a years-long buildup of Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon that paved the way for the recent war.

“Any actions that risk the fragile cessation of hostilities must cease,” UNIFIL said on Thursday.

On Monday the force urged “accelerated progress” in the Israeli military’s withdrawal.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported on Thursday “extensive” operations by Israeli forces in the south.

It said residents of Qantara fled to a nearby village “following an incursion by Israeli enemy forces into their town.”

On Wednesday the NNA said Israeli aircraft struck the eastern Baalbek region, far from the border.