Two Lebanese civilians were killed and several others wounded on Friday in a series of Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon, in the latest breach of the ceasefire ahead of the second phase of the Lebanese army's plan to restrict weapons across the country.
Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit a truck in the town of Mansouri in south Lebanon, killing one person, the latest Israeli escalation. A second overnight strike targeted a car in Mayfadoun in Nabatieh district, killing another civilian.
The latest attacks come amid a sharp increase in Israeli strikes across Lebanese territory. On Thursday, Israel expanded its bombardment beyond the south, striking the western Bekaa, including the towns of Sahmar and Mashghara, after issuing evacuation warnings to residents.
On Thursday night, Israeli aircraft targeted the outskirts of Hermel in eastern Lebanon, in addition to continued attacks in the south.
In Lebanon, there is growing concern over the trajectory of Israeli military operations, particularly as the strikes increasingly extend beyond the area south of the Litani River, which is being perceived as a way of pressuring Beirut.
This escalation comes ahead of the Lebanese army's planned implementation of the second phase of its weapons restriction plan, which will include areas north of the Litani, and before the army presents its assessment report to the cabinet in February.
The Lebanese army has repeatedly called on Israel to halt its attacks and withdraw from the points it continues to occupy on Lebanese territory, saying this is essential for the army to carry out its duties and fully implement its plan.
Lebanese military sources told The New Arab that the army was preparing a report evaluating the first phase of the plan, which covered areas south of the Litani and were now under army control, except for locations still occupied by Israeli forces.
The sources said Israel's withdrawal was necessary to allow the army to complete its deployment across the area.
They added that the army was also preparing a proposal concerning areas north of the Litani, which will be presented to the cabinet next month, alongside a detailed account of the tasks it has carried out under a cabinet decision issued last August.
These tasks, the sources said, extend beyond the south and include other regions, including Palestinian refugee camps.
International attention has increasingly focused on the second phase of the army's plan following praise for the first phase, alongside calls for swift implementation of measures aimed at consolidating the state's exclusive control over weapons.
At the same time, Hezbollah has warned of chaos and even civil war if the government continues what it sees as a path of concessions, while Israel continues its daily attacks and maintains its occupation of parts of Lebanese territory.
A parliamentary source from Hezbollah told The New Arab that the group does not want confrontation with the Lebanese army and does not seek war. However, the source said the government's current approach was "extremely dangerous", accusing it of conceding to Israeli demands while Israel had failed to implement any part of the ceasefire agreement and had violated it thousands of times.
"How can the government continue down this path while Israel has taken no steps at all and continues to expand its daily attacks?" the source said.
The priority at this stage, he added, should not be areas north of the Litani, but rather stopping Israeli attacks, securing Israel's withdrawal from occupied points, and ensuring the release of Lebanese detainees.
New attack on UN peacekeepers
In a further escalation, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Friday that Israeli forces had carried out a new attack against its troops in southern Lebanon, reminding Israel of its obligation to ensure the safety of peacekeepers.
UNIFIL said any actions that place peacekeepers at risk constitute "serious violations" of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and undermine stability in the area.
According to UNIFIL, peacekeepers conducting a planned patrol near the area of Adaisseh on Thursday were warned by local residents of a potential danger inside a house, where an improvised explosive device connected to a detonating wire was found.
As the peacekeepers secured the area and prepared to inspect another building, a drone flying overhead dropped a grenade around 30 metres from their position.
UNIFIL said it immediately requested a ceasefire from the Israeli army and confirmed that no injuries were reported. It added that Israeli military activities on Lebanese territory endanger local civilians and violate Resolution 1701.