Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon on Thursday, intensifying their frequent attacks on the country. This action defied a ceasefire agreement from November 2024 and followed Hezbollah’s call on the Lebanese government to refrain from engaging in negotiations with Israel.
Israeli military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, warned residents of Tayba, Tayr Debba, and Aita al-Jabal to evacuate from areas within 500 meters of targeted residential buildings allegedly used by Hezbollah. Subsequently, warnings were issued for Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Kfar Dounin. The Lebanese civil defense assisted in evacuating the areas, with most residents leaving before the strikes. However, one person was reported injured by Lebanon’s health ministry following the recent attacks.
The Israeli military stated that the airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, including weapons storage facilities embedded within civilian-populated regions. They accused the militant group of bolstering its capabilities nearly a year after the ceasefire brokered by the U.S. came into effect. Hezbollah has refrained from launching attacks on Israel since the ceasefire agreement was initiated.
The strikes have resulted in significant casualties, with over 270 individuals killed and approximately 850 wounded due to Israeli military actions post-ceasefire, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry. The U.N. Human Rights Office confirmed that 107 of the fatalities were civilians or noncombatants by early October. Israeli government spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, reiterated Israel’s commitment to defending its borders and enforcing the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the airstrikes on Thursday led to the destruction of an ironworks business in Abbasiyeh, southern Lebanon, affecting multiple households. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Israel for its military presence in Lebanese territory and the escalating hostilities. Aoun expressed openness to negotiations with Israel to ease tensions, a stance opposed by Hezbollah, which cited its right to resist Israeli occupation.
The Lebanese government, under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, convened in Beirut to review a plan aimed at disarming Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups in the country. Despite progress made by the Lebanese military in this regard, obstacles persist, with Israeli aggression being a major challenge, as highlighted by Information Minister Paul Morcos.
Fears of a full-scale aerial bombing campaign by Israel have heightened in Lebanon, especially after Israeli leaders warned of actions against Hezbollah if disarmament efforts were not expedited. The ongoing tensions underscore the delicate balance between peace negotiations and military confrontations in the volatile region.
