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Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israel mounts heavy airstrikes in south Lebanon
Smoke billows from Nabatieh district, following Israeli strikes, according to two Lebanese security sources, as seen from Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher Smoke billows from Nabatieh district, following Israeli strikes, according to two Lebanese security sources, as seen from Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher Smoke billows from the Nabatieh district, following Israeli strikes, according to two Lebanese security sources, as seen from Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher BEIRUT - Israel launched dozens of airstrikes in south Lebanon on Thursday, in one of its heaviest bombardments of the region since a ceasefire ended last year's war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it had hit a Hezbollah infrastructure site in the south. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, which has previously said that it withdrew all its forces from the south in line with the U.S.-brokered truce. Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least one person was killed and another eight wounded in the strikes. Thick columns of smoke rose from the hilltops hit in the attacks in the Nabatieh region, some 12 km (8 miles) from the border. Israel, which inflicted huge damage on Hezbollah during last year's war, has been carrying out airstrikes in south Lebanon on a regular basis since the ceasefire, and has also struck the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut several times. The ceasefire terms require that neither Hezbollah nor any other armed group have weapons in areas near the border south of the Litani river, which flows into the Mediterranean some 20 km (12 miles) north of the Israeli border. They require Israel to withdraw troops from the south and that the Lebanese army deploy into the border region. Lebanon and Israel have accused each other of failing to fully implement the deal. Israel still has troops on five hilltop positions in the south. Rockets have been fired from Lebanon towards Israel twice, though Hezbollah denied any role. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has said the group has no more weapons in south Lebanon, in line with the ceasefire terms. Lebanese authorities have detained Palestinian militants, including Hamas members, accused of firing rockets towards Israel from Lebanon on two occasions since the ceasefire. Both attacks prompted Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. Israel killed thousands of Hezbollah fighters in the war, destroyed much of its arsenal and eliminated top leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah. The war spiraled after Hezbollah opened fire at the beginning of the Gaza war, declaring solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Ya Libnan
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Truce shaky as Israel strikes Lebanon in response to rocket fire. Hezbollah denies responsibility
Smoke rises from Taibeh, following Israeli strikes in response to cross-border rocket fire, as seen from Marjayoun in southern Lebanon, March 22, 2025. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher Highlights Israeli artillery and airstrikes hit south Lebanon Strikes follow rocket salvo into northern Israel Hezbollah denies any connection with rocket attack Two dead, eight hurt by strikes in Lebanese border areas The clash follows breakdown of Gaza ceasefire deal BEIRUT/JERUSALEM – Israeli artillery and airstrikes hit south Lebanon on Saturday after Israel said it had intercepted rockets fired from across the border, killing at least eight people and endangering a shaky truce that ended a year-long war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. That conflict marked the deadliest spillover of the Gaza war, and a blistering Israeli offensive after months of cross-border exchanges of fire wiped out Hezbollah's top commanders, many of its fighters and much of its arsenal Hezbollah denied responsibility for Saturday's strikes, saying it had 'no link' to the rocket launches and that it remained committed to the ceasefire. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. An Israeli official said the identity of the group which fired the rockets had not been confirmed. Six rockets were fired, the official said, three of which crossed into Israel and were intercepted. Two waves of Israeli strikes killed three people in Bint Jbeil and Touline, as well as five in the port city of Tyre, all in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state news agency, which cited health authorities. Saturday's exchanges were the first since Israel in effect abandoned a separate ceasefire in Gaza with Palestinian militant group Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, both backed by Israel's arch-foe Iran. Later in the day, the Israeli military announced a second round of strikes on what it said were Hezbollah targets. 'We expect Lebanon to take care of its part of the agreement,' Ophir Falk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign policy adviser, told Reuters. 'The IDF will do whatever it takes to enforce the ceasefire and to make sure that our civilians can get back home safely and securely,' Falk said. Israel's military said early on Saturday it had intercepted three rockets launched from a Lebanese district about six km (four miles) north of the border towards the Israeli town of Metula, the second cross-border launch since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November ended fighting. In retaliation, Netanyahu ordered the military to 'act forcefully against dozens of terror targets in Lebanon'. Israel's military said it had struck dozens of Hezbollah rocket launchers and a command centre from which the group's militants had been operating, in southern Lebanon. Lebanon's state news agency reported Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages in the country's south, including border towns and hilltops around eight km inside Lebanese territory. There were no reports of casualties in Israel. In Gaza, health authorities said five Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire, including a child, in incidents in Beit Lahiya and Gaza City in the north of the enclave. The Israeli military said a number of militants in a vehicle were identified approaching its troops in northern Gaza who 'posed a threat to them' and the military struck them. An Israeli airstrike on the city of Rafah, which abuts Gaza's southern border with Egypt, killed two Palestinians, Gazan medics said. Israel's military said it had struck militants in the area. UN ALARMED BY BORDER VIOLENCE Under the November ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was to have no weapons in southern Lebanon, Israeli ground troops were to withdraw and Lebanese army troops were to deploy into the area. The agreement specifies that Lebanon's government is responsible for dismantling all military infrastructure in southern Lebanon and confiscating all unauthorized arms. President Joseph Aoun ordered the Lebanese army to secure 'any violation' that could threaten stability in Lebanon. The army said it had found and dismantled three 'primitive rocket launchers' in the south. Netanyahu said Israel was holding Lebanon's government responsible for 'everything taking place within its territory' and that Israel would not allow any harm to its citizens and sovereignty. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said it was alarmed by the 'volatile' situation and that any further escalation could have 'serious consequences for the region.' Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned of a renewal of military operations in the south of Lebanon, adding: 'All security and military measures must be taken to show that Lebanon decides on matters of war and peace.' The ceasefire ended Israel's intense bombardment and ground operations in Lebanon and Hezbollah's daily rocket barrages into Israel. Each side has accused the other of failing to implement the deal in full. Israel says Hezbollah still has military infrastructure in the south. Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel is occupying Lebanese land by continuing to carry out some airstrikes and keeping its troops at five hilltop positions near the frontier. (Reuters)
Egypt Independent
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
22 killed as residents of southern Lebanon defy Israeli orders not to return home
CNN — At least 22 people were killed and 124 others injured by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, as residents of villages near the border defied orders by Israel's military not to return to their homes. The deaths come as a deadline expired Sunday for Israel to withdraw forces from the area, as part of a ceasefire agreement that ended months of conflict with Hezbollah. Under the November ceasefire agreement, both Israeli and Hezbollah forces agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, the end of a 60-day period stipulated in the deal. But Israel's government said Friday that the military would not withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon by Sunday's deadline, blaming Lebanon for failing to uphold its end of the agreement. The Lebanese army in turn accused Israel of 'procrastination.' Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said the Israeli military launched attacks on Lebanese citizens on Sunday attempting to enter towns still occupied by Israeli forces. Of those killed, one was a soldier 'targeted by gunfire from the Israeli enemy,' the Lebanese army said. Video verified by CNN showed residents on foot in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon, trying to return to their villages. Some were seen carrying Hezbollah flags, while others held images of militant fighters killed in the war. It comes after Israel's military issued a fresh order on Sunday to residents of dozens of southern Lebanese villages not to return to their homes. 'Urgent!! A new reminder to the residents of southern Lebanon: Until further notice you are prohibited from moving south to the line of villages and their surroundings,' Avichay Adraee, Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), wrote on X. The post included a map of southern Lebanon with an area along the border with Israel shaded red and a list of more than 60 villages residents were prohibited from accessing. A man carries an injured person in Burj al-Muluk on Sunday. Karamallah Daher/Reuters 'The Defense Forces do not intend to target you and therefore at this stage you are prohibited from returning to your homes from this line south until further notice. Anyone who moves south of this line puts themselves at risk,' Adraee said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops operating in southern Lebanon 'fired warning shots to remove threats in a number of areas where suspects were identified approaching the troops.' The Israeli military added it had apprehended numerous suspects for questioning, claiming they posed and 'imminent threat to the troops.' Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun said he was 'monitoring this issue at the highest levels' in a statement. 'Lebanon's sovereignty and the unity of its territory are not subject to compromise,' he said and promised residents of the south he would 'ensure your rights and dignity.' The United Nations called on both sides to urgently recommit to the agreement while its peacekeeping force said it was deploying to areas in southern Lebanon at the request of the Lebanese army. The president of France, Emmanuel Macron urged Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw his remaining forces from Lebanon in a phone call on Sunday, according to the French President's office. France played a key role in brokering the ceasefire deal alongside the US last November.
New York Times
26-01-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
As Thousands Try to Return Home, Mideast Cease-Fires Appear Fragile
The cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza appeared increasingly fragile on Sunday after Israeli forces killed scores of people in southern Lebanon, Lebanese officials said, while in Gaza, Israel prevented Palestinians from moving back to their homes, saying Hamas had violated the terms of the truce. In Lebanon, negotiators had hoped that the cease-fire, which was signed in November, would become permanent, securing a measure of calm in a turbulent region. Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war have poured onto roads leading south, heading back to their homes. But as a deadline passed on Sunday for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the forces of the militant group Hezbollah from southern Lebanon, a very different scenario was taking shape. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Israeli forces killed at least 22 people and injured 120 in southern Lebanon, making Sunday the deadliest day in the country since the war ended in November. The Israeli military said in a statement late on Sunday that it had fired 'warning shots in order to eliminate threats' — a formulation that suggested the shots may have been more than just warnings. It said that there had been 'dozens of rioters' in the area. The military also said its soldiers had spotted a 'a vehicle with Hezbollah flags' and that its forces had 'operated in order to remove the threat.' People gathering on Sunday as the army secured an area near the village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon. Credit... Karamallah Daher/Reuters In recent days, Israeli officials have expressed concerns that Hezbollah remains active in southern Lebanon and it has doubts about the Lebanese Army's ability to rein in the group. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Egypt Independent
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Three killed as residents of southern Lebanon defy Israeli orders not to return home
CNN — Three people were killed and 44 others injured by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese government said, as residents of villages near the border defied orders by Three people were killed and 44 others injured by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese government said, as residents of villages near the border defied orders by Israel's military not to return to their homes. The deaths come as a deadline expired Sunday for Israel to withdraw forces from the area, as part of a ceasefire agreement that ended months of conflict with Hezbollah. Under the November ceasefire agreement, both Israeli and Hezbollah forces agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, the end of a 60-day period stipulated in the deal. But Israel's government said Friday that the military would not withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon by Sunday's deadline, blaming Lebanon for failing to uphold its end of the agreement. The Lebanese army in turn accused Israel of 'procrastination.' Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said the Israeli military launched attacks on Lebanese citizens on Sunday attempting to enter towns still occupied by Israeli forces. Video verified by CNN showed residents on foot in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon, trying to return to their villages. Some were seen carrying Hezbollah flags, while others held images of militant fighters killed in the war. It comes after Israel's military issued a fresh order on Sunday to residents of dozens of southern Lebanese villages not to return to their homes. 'Urgent!! A new reminder to the residents of southern Lebanon: Until further notice you are prohibited from moving south to the line of villages and their surroundings,' Avichay Adraee, Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), wrote on X. The post included a map of southern Lebanon with an area along the border with Israel shaded red and a list of more than 60 villages residents were prohibited from accessing. A man carries an injured person in Burj al-Muluk on Sunday. Karamallah Daher/Reuters 'The Defense Forces do not intend to target you and therefore at this stage you are prohibited from returning to your homes from this line south until further notice. Anyone who moves south of this line puts themselves at risk,' Adraee said. CNN has contacted the Israeli military for comment. Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun said he was 'monitoring this issue at the highest levels' in a statement. 'Lebanon's sovereignty and the unity of its territory are not subject to compromise,' he said and promised residents of the south he would 'ensure your rights and dignity.'
