JERUSALEM/BEIRUT - Israel renewed its attack on eastern and southern Lebanon on Sunday night, striking what the Israeli military described as Hezbollah sites.

In a statement, the military said "several" military sites belonging to Hezbollah were struck, including strategic weapons production and storage sites, and a rocket launching site in the area of Bekaa and southern Lebanon.

"The presence of weapons and Hezbollah activities in the area constitutes blatant violations of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the military said, vowing to "continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel."

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A Lebanese military source and eyewitnesses from the southern areas told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out 20 airstrikes on wide areas in eastern and southern Lebanon, targeting "Hezbollah positions that had previously been subjected to similar attacks."

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024 that ended 14 months of cross-border fighting, Israel has continued to carry out intermittent strikes on Lebanese territory.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Sunday firmly rejected calls for the Lebanese armed group to disarm, declaring that resistance against Israel remains an unavoidable duty for Lebanon.

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Speaking on the occasion of Ashoura Day, Qassem emphasized that defending the country does not require anyone's permission and dismissed calls for Hezbollah to lay down its arms.

"This (Israeli) occupation must end. We must resist it, we must confront it," Qassem was quoted as saying in a statement released by Hezbollah.

Addressing critics who urge Hezbollah to disarm, he compared the situation to defending one's home against an intruder, saying immediate defense is a right, not a privilege.

"Do you wait for permission to defend yourself when attacked at home? Defense doesn't need authorization," he said.

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Qassem also condemned those who pressure Lebanese citizens to surrender their weapons while ignoring Israeli aggression.

"Demand the enemy's withdrawal, not your citizens' surrender," he said.

He further warned Lebanese political factions against seeking foreign support to undermine Hezbollah's position, asserting that such attempts will fail.