ISRAEL said on Saturday that its military has established a so-called “yellow line” in southern Lebanon.

The move, which will mean anyone approaching the line will be routinely targeted, comes after a United States brokered 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect last Thursday.

It also follows the killing of a French peacekeeping soldier earlier on Saturday.

Despite the so-called ceasefire, Israel has continued to carry out attacks in southern Lebanon. On Saturday, Israeli artillery attacks hit the southern Lebanese town of Beit Leif, Qantara and Touline.

The Israelis have also continued its campaign of clearing out the population and demolishing homes across several areas in the south in what it claims is the creation of a security buffer. Many experts have described this as ethnic cleansing, a crime against humanity.

In a statement, the military said that it was carrying out the attacks in response to fighters approaching areas where Israeli troops are stationed in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said: “Actions taken in self-defence and to remove immediate threats are not restricted by the ceasefire.”

In a statement late on Saturday, Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem said: “A ceasefire means a complete cessation of all hostilities. Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger and they will respond to violations accordingly.

“There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only. It must be from both sides.”

Mr Qassem also demanded a complete withdrawal by the Israelis from Lebanon.

He added that Hezbollah is “open to co-operation with the Lebanese state,” based on maintaining “national sovereignty.”

Meanwhile, a UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon came under attack with small arms fire on Saturday morning, leaving one French peacekeeper, identified as Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban, dead and three others wounded, France’s president and the force known as Unifil said.

Both President Emmanuel Macron and the Unifil peacekeeping mission blamed Hezbollah for the attack near the southern Lebanese village of Ghanouriyeh, but the resistance group denied involvement.

Hezbollah said it was surprised by the accusations, especially given the silence “when the Israeli enemy attacks Unifil forces.”

But President Macron said: “Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah. 

“France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible and assume their responsibilities alongside Unifil.” 

In Beirut, three judicial sources said that Lebanon’s Military Tribunal has opened an investigation into the attack.