Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in Lebanon overnight, targeting Hezbollah and resulting in at least one fatality.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that the assault on the village of Musaileh also destroyed the primary road connecting Lebanon to Beirut.
A statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated they were striking at “Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure” in southern Lebanon.
The IDF noted that the site housed machinery used by Hezbollah for rebuilding its infrastructure, which they asserted violated existing agreements between Israel and Lebanon.
This attack follows a series of daily assaults initiated after an alleged breach of a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon that had been established last November.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, labeling it unprovoked. He remarked that South Lebanon had once again become the target of an unjust Israeli invasion of civilian areas and emphasized that there were no valid justifications for the strikes.
Aoun further highlighted the gravity of the situation, indicating that the attack occurred after a ceasefire had been established in Gaza.
The IDF began military operations in Lebanon shortly after Hamas launched its initial attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 hostages being taken. Hezbollah, recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, has aligned with Palestinian militants against Israel, with both groups receiving support from Iran.
This conflict has led to a war lasting 14 months, claiming over 4,000 lives, as per reports.
In August, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested he might consider halting strikes on Lebanon if Hezbollah were disarmed.
The Lebanese government responded by expressing its commitment to helping disarm Hezbollah, but insisted that “hostile relations” had to cease with Israel.
The recent airstrike occurred shortly after Israel and Hamas agreed to begin implementing a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending a prolonged conflict in Gaza. This deal, announced by President Trump late last month, includes provisions for a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and some Palestinian prisoners.
The president is set to visit Egypt and Israel on Sunday to commemorate this agreement’s rollout, while U.S. personnel are present in Israel to oversee its implementation.
On Thursday, Aoun praised the ceasefire agreement and called for ongoing international and regional efforts to establish a comprehensive peace that acknowledges the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
He urged Israel to halt its aggressive actions in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.
