Lebanese officials and the army condemned Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Thursday, saying they undermined the army’s plan to impose state authority in the region and were a blatant violation of last year’s ceasefire agreement.
The strikes, which Israel claimed targeted Hezbollah positions, came as Lebanon marked one year since the launch of Israel’s full-scale offensive.
The Israeli military carried out heavy air raids on five towns in southern Lebanon shortly after an expulsion order.
One strike hit the border town of Mays al-Jabal, ravaged during last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon’s health ministry said one person was injured.
Other strikes targeted the towns of Debbin, Burj Qalawiya, Al-Shahabiya, and Kfar Tebnit, where roads were filled with people trying to flee ahead of the bombardment.
There were no immediate reports of deaths.
The Israeli army claimed it had struck several weapons storage facilities belonging to Hezbollah's Radwan force, without providing any evidence.
Despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in late November, Israel has continued to bomb parts of Lebanon, insisting its strikes target Hezbollah’s sites, weapons, and officials.
Hindering deployment and stability
Following the latest attacks, Lebanon’s army said Israel had violated the November 2024 ceasefire more than 4,500 times, making it harder for the Lebanese Armed Forces to carry out their deployment in the south.
"The Israeli enemy continues its attacks on civilians, most recently targeting several villages today and striking populated areas, causing deaths and injuries," it said in a statement.
"These violations coincide with constant breaches of Lebanese sovereignty by land, sea, and air, and ongoing crimes against border residents, including the demolition of homes and the launching of Molotov cocktails," it added.
"These attacks hinder the army’s deployment in the south, and their continuation will obstruct the disarmament plan south of the Litani River," the army continued.
Under a cabinet-approved plan earlier this month, the Lebanese military said it would continue dismantling Hezbollah positions south of the Litani for the next three months before moving to other areas.
UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon whose mandate was extended one last time until the end of 2026, also condemned the strikes.
"Last night’s Israeli strikes in south Lebanon are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and put the fragile stability built since last November at risk," it said in a statement.
"They further undermine civilians' confidence that a non-violent solution is possible. UNIFIL and the Lebanese army are on the ground daily, working to restore stability."
The statement added that UN peacekeepers in two targeted positions had to take shelter and warned the strikes endangered Lebanese soldiers, UN personnel, and civilians.
"We call on the Israel Defense Forces to refrain from further strikes and to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. We further urge all sides to avoid escalations," it said.
Silence is encouraging Israel
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticised the United States, without naming it, for remaining silent over repeated Israeli airstrikes.
"Israel does not respect the work of the Mechanism or any of the states sponsoring the ceasefire agreement," he said in a statement.
The Mechanism refers to the US-led ceasefire monitoring body that also includes France, Lebanon, Israel, and a UN representative. It was meant to prevent violations but has been accused by Beirut of shielding Israeli actions.
"The silence of sponsoring states is a dangerous failure that encourages these attacks. The Mechanism must serve all parties, not cover for Israeli aggression. It is time to put an immediate end to these blatant violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty," Aoun said.
The Lebanese government has stressed that disarming all militias is vital to ending military dualism in the country, but has urged the US to pressure Israel to reciprocate.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also questioned Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire, asking why it continues to provoke and attack Lebanon.
He called on the international community, especially states that brokered the deal, to "exert maximum pressure on Israel to immediately stop its attacks," withdraw from south Lebanon, and release prisoners.