6 days ago
Israel Raises its Flag in Southern Lebanon
The Israeli army raised on Wednesday a large Israeli flag on the Hamames hilltop it had occupied during its war with Hezbollah last year.
The area, one kilometer deep inside Lebanese territory, overlooks the Wazzani River in the South. Lebanese media said Israel raised several flags in the area that is located southeast of the city of Khiam.
Images circulated on social media showed two new flags in the region.
Even though Israel claims to be holding five hilltops in Lebanon since the end of the war, it is actually occupying seven areas in the country, revealed Lebanese security sources.
The two undeclared areas are one inside the town of Kfar Kila and the other near the border town of al-Dhaira.
In Kfar Kila, Israel is holding a road that extends around 200 meters from the border. In Dhaira, Israeli troops blocked a road in the area where they are deployed.
The other positions that are openly occupied are in Hamames, one near the southeastern town of Markaba, another in the Aitaroun region, one in Jabal Blat and the fifth in al-Labbouneh near the coast and overlooking al-Naqoura.
The raising of the Israeli flag is the latest in its violations of the ceasefire that ended the war. Overnight on Monday, Israeli troops infiltrated Mais al-Jabal and set up sand barriers.
The Lebanese army swiftly contacted the quintet committee overseeing the ceasefire and removed the barriers on Tuesday.
An Israeli drone also fired a sound bomb in Kfar Kila. Another targeted the main road in the town of al-Abbasiyeh north of the southern coastal city of Tyre. The drone fired two rockets; one did not explode.
Israel also fired artillery on the outskirts of the town of Kfar Shouba and its forces opened fire at citizens in the town of Blida. No injuries were reported.
On Wednesday morning, Israeli forces carried out a sweep of an area near the Marjeyon plain and flew drones at low altitude over the al-Zahrani region.
An Israeli strike on the outskirts of the town Yater killed a Hezbollah official in the area.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the official sought to reestablish operations in the area in violation of the ceasefire.
Israel had also assassinated a Hezbollah member in the southern town of Majdal Zoun on Monday.
