Latest news with #Nabatieh
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Israel launches wave of strikes across south Lebanon
The Israeli military has launched several air raids across south Lebanon, killing at least one person, Lebanon's National News Agency reports, as it intensifies its attacks in the country, in the latest violations of a ceasefire agreement. Lebanon's Health Ministry also reported a second person shot dead by Israeli forces in a separate attack. The strikes on Thursday targeted areas near the towns of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Beit Lif, Ramia, al-Bisariya, Wadi al-Safa and al-Sarira. Low-flying Israeli jets and drones were also reported in several regions of southern Lebanon. An Israeli drone strike killed a municipal worker operating a water well in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, according to the town's mayor, Zein Ali Ghandour. Ghandour said on Thursday that the victim, Mahmoud Hasan Atwi, was 'martyred' while on his official duty of trying to provide water for the people of the town. 'We condemn in the strongest terms this blatant aggression against civilians and civilian infrastructure as well as the Lebanese state and its institutions,' the mayor said in a statement. Ghandour called on the international community to press the issue and put an end to Israeli violations. The Israeli military had claimed that it fired at a 'Hezbollah operative' who it said was 'rehabilitating a site' used by the group. Lebanon's Health Ministry later reported that a person was killed by Israeli gunfire on the Lebanese border town of Kfar Kila. Israel has been carrying out near-daily attacks in Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement it reached with Hezbollah in November of last year, causing mostly civilian deaths and injuries. Last week, the Israeli military launched a wave of air strikes across south Lebanon that it said targeted Hezbollah infrastructure. Israel has also been regularly firing at fields and civilian homes on the Lebanese side of the border. In an earlier attack on Thursday, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the southern village of Beit Lif, injuring at least one person, the National News Agency reported. Israel claims that its attacks are in enforcement of the ceasefire, which requires Hezbollah to pull its forces to the north of the Litani River, about 30km (18 miles), from the border, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1701. But the Israeli military has been carrying out strikes in the entire country, not just south of the river. Israel has bombed the Lebanese capital Beirut several times this year. Early in April, an Israeli strike assassinated a Hezbollah official and killed three others in the Beirut suburbs of Dahiyeh. Israeli troops also continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon in breach of the truce. The ceasefire last year ended an intense Israeli bombing campaign that followed months of low-level hostilities linked to the war in Gaza between Hezbollah and Israel that were largely confined to the border area. Hezbollah emerged weakened from the war after losing its top political and military officials, including its longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah, in Israeli attacks. Since the end of the war, Hezbollah has not responded to Israeli violations, saying that it is giving the Lebanese state the opportunity to stop the attacks through diplomatic channels. The group has warned, however, that its patience may run out. But it is unclear if Hezbollah is capable of confronting Israel militarily, as it had for decades – including hastening an end to Israel's occupation of south Lebanon in 2000 and fighting a 2006 war to a stalemate, after the heavy blows it suffered during the war. Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, have repeatedly called on France and the United States – the main sponsors of the ceasefire deal – to pressure Israel to end its abuses. Pressured by the US on disarming Hezbollah, Aoun has said the issue is a 'delicate' one.
Asharq Al-Awsat
9 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli Strike Kills a Municipal Worker in Southern Lebanon
An Israeli drone strike killed a municipal worker in southern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency said on Thursday. The man was on his way to work on a well supplying water to homes when he was killed in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the agency said. Lebanon's Health Ministry also reported one person killed in the strike. The Israeli army said in a statement that it had killed a 'Hezbollah terrorist' who was 'rehabilitating a site used by' the group 'to manage its fire and defense array." A US-brokered ceasefire agreement brought the latest war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah to an end in late November, but Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes on Lebanon since then. Lebanon has complained that Israel is violating the ceasefire while Israel says it is striking Hezbollah facilities and officials to prevent the group from rearming.
Al Jazeera
11 hours ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Israel kills municipal worker at water well in south Lebanon: Mayor
An Israeli drone strike that has killed one person in a south Lebanon village targeted a municipal worker operating a water well, not a Hezbollah member as the Israeli military had claimed, according to the Mayor of Nabatieh al-Fawqa Zein Ali Ghandour. Ghandour said on Thursday that the victim, Mahmoud Hasan Atwi, was 'martyred' while on his official duty of trying to provide water for the people of the town. 'We condemn in the strongest terms this blatant aggression against civilians and civilian infrastructure as well as the Lebanese state and its institutions,' the mayor said in a statement. Ghandour called on the international community to press the issue and put an end to Israeli violations. The Israeli military had claimed that it fired at a 'Hezbollah operative' who it said was 'rehabilitating a site' used by the group. Israel has been carrying out near-daily attacks in Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement it reached with Hezbollah in November of last year, causing mostly civilian deaths and injuries. Last week, the Israeli military launched a wave of air strikes across south Lebanon that it said targeted Hezbollah infrastructure. Israel has also been regularly firing at fields and civilian homes on the Lebanese side of the border. On Thursday, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the southern village of Beit Lif, injuring at least one person, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. Israel claims that its attacks are in enforcement of the ceasefire, which requires Hezbollah to pull its forces to the north of the Litani River, about 30km (18 miles), from the border, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1701. But the Israeli military has been carrying out strikes in the entire country, not just south of the river. Israel has bombed the Lebanese capital Beirut several times this year. Early in April, an Israeli strike assassinated a Hezbollah official and killed three others in the Beirut suburbs of Dahiyeh. Israeli troops also continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon in breach of the truce. The ceasefire last year ended an intense Israeli bombing campaign that followed months of low-level hostilities linked to the war in Gaza between Hezbollah and Israel that were largely confined to the border area. Hezbollah emerged weakened from the war after losing its top political and military officials, including its longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah, in Israeli attacks. Since the end of the war, Hezbollah has not responded to Israeli violations, saying that it is giving the Lebanese state the opportunity to stop the attacks through diplomatic channels. The group has warned, however, that its patience may run out. But it is unclear if Hezbollah is capable of confronting Israel militarily as it was able to for decades – including hastening an end to Israel's occupation of south Lebanon in 2000 and fighting a 2006 war to a stalemate – after the heavy blows it suffered during the war. Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, have repeatedly called on France and the United States – the main sponsors of the ceasefire deal – to pressure Israel to end its abuses. Pressured by the US on disarming Hezbollah, Aoun has said the issue is a 'delicate' one.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Interior Minister: No interference in South Lebanon, Nabatieh municipal and mukhtar elections
Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar announced that several complaints were received and followed up on with the security agencies during the municipal and mukhtar elections in the South Lebanon and Nabatieh governorates, but no breaches or interference were recorded. Speaking from the Interior Ministry after polls closed, Al-Hajjar acknowledged that voter turnout was low compared to the 2016 elections. However, he emphasized that after a nine-year hiatus, the most important achievement was that Lebanese citizens exercised their democratic rights. He described uncontested wins as a legitimate democratic outcome, stating that there are no legal issues with such results. Al-Hajjar concluded by expressing hope that the elections will pave the way for renewed energy in local governance, affirming that all recorded incidents were referred to the competent security and judicial authorities, and stressing that no political influence marred the electoral process.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Wraps Up Local Vote in South Amid International Pressure on Israel
Lebanon completed the final phase of its municipal and local elections on Saturday in the southern governorates of South Lebanon and Nabatieh, under what officials described as 'international guarantees' aimed at deterring Israeli interference amid heightened cross-border tensions. The vote went ahead just two days after a violent escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border, which raised fears of disruption. Lebanese officials said diplomatic pressure was exerted on Israel to avoid any military action that could obstruct the electoral process. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who cast his ballot in his hometown of Al-Aishiyeh in Nabatieh, said there were 'guarantees' that Israel would not launch attacks during the vote. Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar visited polling stations in the border town of Shebaa, echoing those assurances. 'All diplomatic contacts have been reassuring,' he said, emphasizing the state's commitment to safeguarding sovereignty. Despite Israeli drone activity in the skies above southern villages, no airstrikes were recorded, according to local field sources. Violations of the ceasefire agreement were limited to Israeli surveillance and the firing of flares from a military outpost near Shebaa, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported. In remarks from the south, Aoun said: 'The will to live is stronger than death, and the will to build is stronger than the will to destroy.' He added that the elections marked not only the anniversary of Lebanon's 2000 liberation from Israeli occupation, but also a celebration of democracy and the people's right to choose. Aoun began his election day tour at the government compound in the city of Sidon, where he met employees alongside Defense Minister Michel Menassa and Hajjar. In a speech from the compound, he paid tribute to the soldiers and civilians who died defending the south, calling them 'a beacon of freedom and dignity for future generations.' He urged voters to turn out in large numbers, not only as a democratic right but to support candidates capable of rebuilding towns and villages devastated by past conflict. 'These elections are about development, not politics,' he said. Later in Nabatieh, Aoun chaired a security meeting and stressed the significance of holding the vote despite repeated hostilities. 'The people of the south are determined to participate, and that reflects their resilience and commitment to rebuilding,' he said. 'These elections are an opportunity to shape the future for the next generation. It is the duty of every voter to take part in Lebanon's reconstruction,' he added, expressing hope that the coming days would bring an end to the country's suffering and wars. Aoun's visit also held personal significance as he voted in the optional local elections in his hometown, where municipal seats had already been filled by consensus. 'For 40 years I've protected elections; today I vote for the first time – for the development of my village,' the former army chief told reporters after casting his ballot. He said consensus, which led to the uncontested win of municipal candidates in Al-Aishiyeh, was a form of 'consensual democracy,' noting that had there been no agreement, competitive elections would have been held, 'which is natural in a democratic system.' Asked again about the threat of Israeli attacks, Aoun reiterated that 'guarantees are in place,' and called on voters to cast their ballots decisively. 'The message today is that the south is an integral part of Lebanon, and no force should stand in the way of the Lebanese people's will to endure.'
