Lebanon state media say series of Israeli strikes hit south
This pictures taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of the southern Lebanese village of Nabatiyeh on May 8, 2025 (AFP photo)
BEIRUT, LEBANON — Lebanese official media said Israel conducted heavy air strikes on the south on Thursday, the latest raids despite a fragile November ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah .
The state-run National News Agency [NNA] said "Israeli warplanes carried out a wide-scale aerial aggression on the Nabatiyeh region, launching a series of heavy raids in two waves" targeting hills and valleys in the area, located around 12 kilometres from the border. It said "huge explosions... echoed in most areas of Nabatiyeh and the south", causing "terror and panic" among residents, who rushed to pick up their children from school, as ambulances headed to the targeted areas. An AFP photographer saw smoke rising from hills in the region. "We heard a loud strike, about 10 consecutive blows," said Jamal Sabbagh, a 29-year-old doctor who was giving schoolchildren health checks near the city of Nabatiyeh. "Some of the children were scared and there was panic, the teachers were also frightened," he told AFP. The raids come a day after an Israeli strike killed a commander from Palestinian militant group Hamas in the southern city of Sidon. Israel has continued to launch regular strikes in Lebanon despite the November 27 truce which sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hizbollah including two months of full-blown war. Under the deal, Hizbollah was to pull back its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River, some 30 kilometres from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure to its south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from Lebanon, but it has kept troops in five areas that it deems "strategic". Hizbollah , long a dominant force in Lebanon, was weakened in its latest war with its arch-foe, which also saw an Israeli ground incursion and a slew of the group's senior commanders killed, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. Lebanon says it has respected its ceasefire commitments and has called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its attacks and withdraw all its troops. Lebanese authorities have vowed to implement a state monopoly on bearing arms, though President Joseph Aoun has said disarming Hizbollah is a "delicate" matter that requires dialogue.
The November truce was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
8 hours ago
- Roya News
France opens genocide complicity investigations over Gaza aid blockade
French anti-terror authorities have opened two investigations into allegations of genocide-related crimes, following accusations that French-"Israeli" nationals participated in efforts to obstruct humanitarian aid destined for Gaza earlier this year. According to France's national anti-terror prosecutor's office (PNAT), the probes are centered on possible "complicity in genocide," "incitement to genocide," and "complicity in crimes against humanity" between January and May 2024. These mark the first known French criminal inquiries into potential violations of international law linked to the war in Gaza. The investigations were triggered by two separate legal complaints. One was filed in November by the Jewish French Union for Peace and a French-Palestinian victim, targeting individuals allegedly tied to hardline pro-"Israel" groups "Israel is forever" and "Tzav-9." The complaint claims they physically blocked trucks carrying humanitarian aid at "Israeli" border checkpoints. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs expressed relief at the decision to move forward with a probe. 'We are pleased that the events from January 2024 are now being scrutinized — a time when no one wanted to hear anything about genocide,' said attorneys Damia Taharraoui and Marion Lafouge. Sources close to the case said the incidents in question occurred at the Nitzana and Karam Abu Salem crossings, where demonstrators, including relatives of "Israeli" captives, reportedly forced aid trucks to turn back. A second complaint, filed by the group Lawyers for Justice in the Middle East (CAPJO), presented videos, photos, and public statements as evidence against the same individuals. In a separate case made public the same day, the grandmother of two French children killed in an "Israeli" airstrike in Gaza submitted a legal complaint to the Paris court, accusing "Israel" of genocide and murder. The strike reportedly took the lives of 6-year-old Janna and 9-year-old Abderrahim Abudaher on Oct. 24, 2023. 'We believe these children are dead as part of a deliberate organised policy targeting the whole of Gaza's population with a possible genocidal intent,' said the family's lawyer, Arie Alimi. The children's younger brother, Omar, was severely injured and remains in Gaza under the care of their mother. Although filed against unnamed parties, the grandmother's complaint directly accuses "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his government, and the military. Notably, the children's mother, a French citizen, was convicted in absentia in 2019 for allegedly funding terrorism through donations to Hamas and Islamic Jihad members. While no court has officially labeled the conflict as genocide, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has repeatedly instructed the Israeli Occupation to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and to avoid actions that could amount to genocide. Despite this, UN agencies report that the entire population of Gaza remains at risk of famine. Tensions have further escalated over reports that Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) fired on Palestinians attempting to collect food from a US-backed aid distribution point, prompting backlash and leading several international NGOs and the UN to distance themselves from the operation. Concerns have been raised that the aid program is shaped to align with IOF goals. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity. A similar case against Hamas commander Mohammed Deif was dropped in February after it was confirmed he had been killed.
Roya News
12 hours ago
- Roya News
Netanyahu confirms 'Israel' ‘activated' Palestinian clans against Hamas
'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged on Thursday that 'Israel' has 'activated' certain Palestinian clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas, marking the first official confirmation of 'Israeli' support for armed Palestinian groups within the enclave. Netanyahu's comments, made via a social media video, did not specify the exact nature of the support or the specific roles these clans would play. He said the move was taken on the advice of 'security officials' to protect 'Israeli' soldiers and save lives. Who are the clans? The clans Netanyahu referred to are reportedly extended Palestinian families that exert influence over parts of Gaza and have, at times, clashed with Hamas. An 'Israeli' official stated that the intended group is the Popular Forces, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a local clan leader in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city. In recent weeks, Abu Shabab's group publicly declared its fighters were assisting in securing shipments to 'Israeli'-backed food distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah. However, Palestinians and aid workers have accused the group of also attacking and looting aid convoys. Controversy, conflicting claims The Abu Shabab family itself has distanced from Yasser Abu Shabab, denouncing his ties with the 'Israeli' military and stating that he and his followers 'are no longer linked' to the family. The group's office told the Associated Press that their operations in 'Israeli'-controlled areas are for 'purely humanitarian' reasons, claiming their relationship with 'Israeli' forces is limited to communication aimed at ensuring aid delivery is not intercepted. 'We are not proxies for anyone,' the group said, denying receiving any military or logistical support. They claimed they only took 'the minimum amount of food and water necessary to secure their elements in the field,' dismissing accusations of looting as exaggerations and part of a smear campaign. Aid workers report violence and looting Aid workers and officials provide a different account. Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza's private transportation union supporting aid delivery, accused Abu Shabab's fighters of repeatedly attacking aid trucks on routes from the Kerem Shalom crossing, Gaza's main entry point for humanitarian shipments. 'Our trucks were attacked many times by the Abu Shabab gang, and the Israeli military did nothing,' Sheheiber said. 'The ones who looted aid are now the ones protecting it,' he added sarcastically. An aid worker, speaking anonymously, said attempts last year to negotiate with Abu Shabab and other influential families to stop looting were short-lived, with convoys soon targeted again. International humanitarian perspective Jonathan Whittall, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territories, confirmed on Thursday that criminal gangs, operating with 'Israeli' forces' tacit approval near the Kerem Shalom crossing, have systematically attacked and looted aid convoys. 'These gangs have by far been the biggest cause of aid loss in Gaza,' Whittall said.
Al Bawaba
21 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Audit and Accountability in Focus at AUB Panel on the Chehab Era and the Path Forward
The American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted a timely and thought-provoking panel discussion titled Audit and Accountability – The Chehab Era and the Path Forward, organized by the Fouad Chehab Foundation (FCF), and the AUB Good Governance and Citizenship Observatory (GGCO) housed at the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship. Held on AUB's campus, the event brought together leading legal and governance experts to examine the institutions established under former President Fouad Chehab—bodies tasked with supervising public administration and enforcing accountability—and to explore their relevance to Lebanon's current challenges in governance and state event was moderated by Attorney of Law Amine Bachir and featured three distinguished panelists: Judge Georges Attieh, president of the Central Inspection Board; Court of Accounts Judge Elie Maalouf, professor at La Sagesse University; and Judge Rana Akoum, head of the Enforcement Court in Simon Kachar, founding and current director of GGCO, welcomed the panelists and attendees, and spoke about the timeliness of the panel and the growing momentum in Lebanon for governance and institutional reform. He noted that the collaboration with the Fouad Chehab Foundation reflects a shared commitment to linking the lessons of the past with the reform efforts of his recorded video message opening the event, AUB President Dr. Fadlo R. Khuri praised Chehab as 'one of the most important presidents Lebanon has known,' highlighting his commitment to the development of robust state institutions. 'We see today not only an opportunity to study the accomplishments, merits, and difficulties of the Chehab era,' Khuri stated, 'but also to apply what we learn from these studies to Lebanon's current reality.' He added that we must work toward building 'a state of institutions at a time when the Lebanese state is expressing its will and determination to reassert its authority across the country.'Khuri noted that the Chehab era was defined by the application of law and respect for institutions, a principle Lebanon has struggled to uphold since the onset of civil war, stating that enforcing the law and upholding institutional will are capabilities essential for restoring confidence in governance and rebuilding a viable of the Fouad Chehab Foundation Adel Hamiyeh reflected on the enduring values behind the foundation's work. He noted that President Chehab built institutions that were not only administrative and financial, but also social, cultural, and developmental in nature. Hamiyeh said, 'We decided to organize a series of panel discussions on the Chehabist experience, addressing topics such as governance, and involving universities, with the aim of introducing the Chehabist message to the younger generation—especially during this period marked by the optimism that accompanied the election of President Joseph Aoun, his delivery of the oath of office, and the subsequent formation of a distinguished government known for its competence and its promising ministerial statement. This has given us hope that this new era may resemble that of President Fouad Chehab in terms of restoring the authority and institutions of the state and returning to a natural foreign policy."The discussion unfolded in three parts: lessons learned from the Chehab era, the current state of institutional paralysis, and potential paths forward. The panelists discussed the rationale behind President Chehab's establishment of key institutions such as the Central Inspection, the Audit Bureau, and the Disciplinary Council. These bodies were conceived as independent mechanisms to promote transparency, discipline, and ethical governance across public administration. The discussion highlighted how these institutions once played a pivotal role in instilling accountability, protecting public resources, and professionalizing the civil service. The discussion also revisited the structural foundations that allowed these institutions to function with autonomy during the Chehab era, and considered the leadership decisions that helped insulate them from political conversation then moved to the contemporary state of these institutions, as the panel examined the range of factors that have contributed to their current dysfunction—including political encroachment, legal ambiguities, and insufficient staffing and funding. The panelists acknowledged that many of these bodies now face significant operational challenges, preventing them from fulfilling their original mandates. Despite this, there was recognition that these institutions still hold potential if revitalized with the appropriate structural and legal ahead, panelists reflected on potential reform pathways. They explored ideas such as enacting legal safeguards to enhance institutional independence, leveraging digital tools to modernize audit and inspection functions, and fostering closer collaboration between oversight bodies, the judiciary, and civil society actors. The discussion emphasized the importance of reestablishing credibility through transparent practices and rebuilding public confidence in Lebanon's governance the discussion, panelists revisited the core principles of the Chehab era—discipline, transparency, and institutional accountability—as potential foundations for Lebanon's future reform efforts. While acknowledging the serious structural and political challenges that remain, the conversation underscored the importance of rebuilding credible and independent institutions capable of advancing good governance and restoring public trust. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, during which attendees posed questions and shared reflections, enriching the conversation around the future of institutional reform in Lebanon.
