Israel Says It Targeted "Hezbollah Sites" in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli army launched two raids on southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, which it said targeted Hezbollah "infrastructure," shortly after issuing warnings to residents to evacuate buildings. This new escalation comes one day after a deadly raid on the "Ain al-Hilweh" Palestinian refugee camp.

Details of the Raids and Warnings

• Targeting: The raids hit the towns of Deir Kifa and Shehour in southern Lebanon, according to the official National News Agency (NNA).

• Ultimatums: The Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for specific buildings in Deir Kifa and Shehour before launching the strikes, and later issued new warnings for buildings in Tayr Filsay and Ainata, stating the strikes would target "Hezbollah infrastructure."

• Casualties: Hours before these raids, one person was killed and 11 others were wounded in an Israeli strike on a car in the town of Al-Tiri, targeting a Hezbollah operative (a municipal treasurer), which occurred while a "university bus" carrying students was passing by, injuring some of them.

Mutual Accusations of Ceasefire Violation

Israeli raids continue under the pretext of targeting Hezbollah's attempts to rebuild its military capabilities, while mutual accusations of violating the ceasefire agreement escalate:

• Israeli Accusation: The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire terms by attempting to "rebuild its capabilities" in the southern village of Beit Lief, claiming to have monitored "dozens of terrorist infrastructures" inside the village, some located within civilian homes.

• Lebanese Accusation: Lebanon accuses Israel of violating the US-French brokered ceasefire agreement (reached in November 2024) through strikes and by maintaining its forces in five border points that Lebanon demands they withdraw from.

Context of Recent Escalation

• Wednesday's raids follow the death of at least 13 people in an Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, which targeted a Hamas "training compound," an accusation Hamas denied.

• The Lebanese government decided in August, under US pressure, to disarm Hezbollah, a step the group rejected.

• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun recently expressed readiness to negotiate with Israel to stop its raids, though his offer received no response.