Israeli Forces Kill One Person in Attacks on Southern Lebanon
Israeli Attacks in Southern Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted multiple strikes in Southern Lebanon, resulting in the death of one person, according to Lebanese authorities. The Israeli military stated that these attacks targeted a Hezbollah fighter and its associated infrastructure.
The strikes on Sunday came just days after the Lebanese military announced it had completed the disarmament of Hezbollah in the area south of the Litani River, marking the first phase of a national plan. However, Israel deemed these efforts insufficient.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that "an attack by the Israeli enemy on a vehicle in the city of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon resulted in the martyrdom of one person." The Israeli military specified that the strike was aimed at a Hezbollah member, accusing the group of violating a ceasefire agreement reached at the end of 2024 to end over a year of hostilities.
"In response to Hezbollah's ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreements, [the Israeli military] targeted a Hezbollah terrorist" in the Bint Jbeil area, the military stated in a press release.
Moreover, the National News Agency of Lebanon (NNA) reported that "enemy warplanes launched more than 10 raids" on the city of Kfar Hatta, located north of the Litani, noting "significant damage" to buildings in that area.
The Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for Kfar Hatta and later asserted that it was "attacking Hezbollah infrastructure in multiple areas." Subsequently, they announced a further strike targeting "an underground location used for storing weapons belonging to Hezbollah."
Although a ceasefire was signed between Israel and Lebanon in 2024, Israel has continued its strikes on Lebanon and maintains troops in five areas of southern Lebanon deemed necessary for its security. Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 300 people in Lebanon since the signing of the agreement.
The Israeli military has targeted not only Lebanon but also Hamas. The Lebanese army has stated that it will continue its efforts to control arms held by non-state groups.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the military’s statement, asserting that the ceasefire "clearly establishes that Hezbollah must be completely disarmed." "The efforts made in this regard by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces are an encouraging start, but they are far from sufficient, as demonstrated by Hezbollah's efforts to rearm and rebuild its terrorist infrastructure with Iranian support," it added. However, Hezbollah has consistently refused disarmament, claiming that Israel continues to violate the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
