Israeli strikes on alleged drone sites draw Lebanese condemnation
The Israeli Air Force said on Friday it had struck underground facilities used by Hezbollah to manufacture and store drones in the suburbs of Beirut and in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese leaders said the aerial assault undermines the ceasefire agreed to in November after more than a year of cross-border attacks and a ground invasion by Israel.
The Israeli military accused the Lebanese militia of operating "under the direction and with the financial support" of Iranian officials to produce thousands of drones.
The claim, made via the army's Telegram channel, could not be independently verified.
The Israeli attack on Thursday evening occurred on the eve of Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant holidays on the Muslim calendar.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes, while the Lebanese army strongly criticized Israel's actions, calling them a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Lebanese army on Friday denounced what it described as an escalating pattern of "Israeli aggression."
The Lebanese military leadership warned it could suspend cooperation with a UN-backed monitoring committee overseeing the compliance of the ceasefire deal, which included specific requirements of both sides to comply with.
As part of the agreement, which ended months of severe fighting between Israel and Hezbollah late last year, the Lebanese army is gradually replacing the Iran-backed militia in patrolling the southern border region near Israel.
Hezbollah was supposed to withdraw behind the Litani River, located approximately 30 kilometres north of the border. Israel accuses the militia of repeated violations of that provision.
Israeli troops, for their part, were due to pull out of southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese army noted that the timing of the strikes - ahead of the major religious holiday - appeared aimed at undermining Lebanon's stability and recovery efforts.
It warned that Israel's "persistent refusal to engage with the committee is weakening its credibility and the army's operational role."
Drone threat cited by Israel
The Israeli military said Hezbollah's drone capabilities were expanding with Iranian support, contrary to agreements with Lebanon.
Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023, declaring its support for Hamas.
Israel has responded with airstrikes and ground operations. According to the Israeli army, Hezbollah has launched more than 1,000 drones at Israel during the conflict, some carrying explosives, others used for surveillance.
Before the latest strikes in Beirut's Dahiya suburb and at an alleged Hezbollah drone workshop in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said it took precautions to minimize civilian harm.
It added that the targeted infrastructure was embedded in densely populated areas - evidence, it claimed, that Hezbollah was using civilians as human shields.
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