On Sunday, the Israeli army announced it had conducted strikes on two Hezbollah sites located in southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in ongoing tensions in the region. In a statement, the military described the operations as targeting “military infrastructure, including underground installations,” linked to Hezbollah and identified as active in military operations.
The Israeli military emphasized that the activities at these sites represented a violation of a ceasefire agreement established in November. This agreement aimed to put an end to over a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
According to additional reports, Israeli forces targeted the village of Aita Al-Shaab late Saturday, leading to the destruction of a building utilized by Hezbollah. This structure was said to have served as the residence of a Hezbollah member who had been killed by Israeli forces just a week prior. The individual was reportedly involved in efforts to reinforce Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the region.
The strikes elicited responses from various local sources, with Lebanon’s National News Agency reporting that the strikes caused extensive fires and damage in the area. Images released by AFP depicted thick plumes of smoke rising prominently into the sky as a result of the strikes.
In accordance with the November ceasefire, the Lebanese army has been deploying in southern Lebanon and working to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, aided by UN peacekeepers. Despite this supposed truce, Israel has continued to carry out operations against Hezbollah targets, maintaining a pledge to persist in these actions until the militant group is disarmed.
In response to US pressure, the Lebanese government has ordered its military to formulate a strategy to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. However, Hezbollah has publicly vowed to resist any attempt to strip them of their weapons, complicating an already tense situation.
