- Israeli airstrikes hit multiple towns in southern and eastern Lebanon.
- The IDF targeted alleged Hezbollah infrastructure under civilian cover.
- Lebanon condemned the strikes for targeting civilian and economic facilities.
- These attacks violate the terms of a recent ceasefire agreement.
- The strikes risk escalating regional conflict and undermining Lebanese sovereignty.
In a dangerous escalation that threatens to shatter a tenuous peace, Israeli warplanes conducted a series of airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon on Thursday. The attacks, which hit the towns of Bnaafoul, Nabatieh, and the Bekaa Valley, resulted in at least one person killed and six to seven others wounded, according to Lebanese sources. This aggressive move, purportedly targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, raises serious questions about Israel’s commitment to the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and its broader pattern of disregarding international accords.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the air raids targeted underground Hezbollah storage facilities and a quarry producing concrete for rebuilding terrorist infrastructure. They accused the Iran-backed group of violating the ceasefire by restoring its military network under civilian cover, including through an organization known as “Green Without Borders,” which Israel alleges is a Hezbollah front.
However, the IDF provided no evidence to support its claims that these specific sites housed militant assets. This lack of transparency is a recurring theme from a government that is often accused of using security pretexts to justify aggressive actions against sovereign nations and their civilian populations.
Israel has been attacking Lebanon regularly since the November ceasefire
The strikes are not an isolated incident. Since the November ceasefire was signed, Israel has attacked Lebanon on a near-daily basis. The intensity of these strikes has increased in recent weeks, with last week seeing an attack that destroyed a large number of construction vehicles in Msayleh.
This pattern of escalation demonstrates a blatant disregard for diplomatic agreements. The terms of the ceasefire were meant to involve Israel informing Lebanon of any discovered Hezbollah locations so the Lebanese army could dismantle them. This collaborative process did not happen, with Israel instead opting for unilateral military action.
The human cost of these strikes is immediate and tragic. Beyond the casualties, major damage was reported in the town of Bnaafoul, where both warplanes and drones caused major explosions and damaged multiple buildings. A drone also struck an area of Blida while locals were harvesting olives, highlighting the ever-present danger to ordinary citizens.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes, charging that they targeted “civilian facilities.” He insisted the “repeated Israeli aggression comes as part of a systematic policy aimed at destroying productive infrastructure, hindering economic recovery, and undermining national stability under false security pretexts.” This condemnation underscores the devastating economic and social impact of such military actions on a nation struggling for stability.
The situation on the ground is further complicated by the presence of international peacekeepers. Over the weekend, Israel carried out a drone attack against UNIFIL peacekeepers near Kfar Kela, wounding one. It was the second such incident in a month. The IDF’s tepid response that it would take measures to avoid casualties near UN personnel in the future offers little comfort and points to a culture of impunity.
What does this mean for regional peace?
If a state is willing to so freely violate one ceasefire with daily attacks, what does that signal about its commitment to other recently minted truces? This is the critical question for the region. The same government ordering these strikes in Lebanon is the one now tasked with upholding a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Its actions in Lebanon suggest a preference for military aggression over diplomatic adherence.
The broader context reveals a disturbing trend. This is not merely about retaliating against Hezbollah. It is about a systematic effort to undermine the sovereignty and economic recovery of Lebanon, a nation caught in the crosshairs of regional power struggles. The targeting of a quarry and construction equipment reveals an intent to cripple rebuilding efforts, punishing the entire population. When agreements are broken with such regularity, the promise of peace becomes a hollow shell, and the cycle of violence continues unabated, leaving ordinary people to pay the price.
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