Beirut/Paris, (EFE).- Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday, targeting alleged Hezbollah military infrastructure in at least eight locations just hours after killing a suspected member of the group in a drone strike.
The attacks mark a sharp escalation in hostilities despite a ceasefire agreement reached last November, raising concerns of renewed conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border.
The Israeli military said the airstrikes hit weapons depots and a rocket launch site used by Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group backed by Iran.
The strikes reportedly hit areas including Deir Al Zahrani, Jabour, and Mahmoudiya, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (ANN).
“These were military installations containing weapons caches and infrastructure used for launching attacks,” the Israeli army stated in a press release following the operation.
Earlier on Thursday, a separate Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle in the border town of Aita al Shaab.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health confirmed the attack, noting that one person was killed.
The victim, reportedly affiliated with Hezbollah, has not been officially identified.
Ceasefire violations continue
Despite a ceasefire brokered in Nov. 2024, the Israeli military has continued to launch near-daily attacks on southern Lebanon, citing ongoing threats posed by Hezbollah’s presence near the border.
“Israel claims self-defense, but these continued attacks are deepening instability,” said a Lebanese security official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The latest escalation comes as United States Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, visited Beirut earlier this week to push forward a roadmap that includes the disarmament of Hezbollah and full implementation of the ceasefire.
No formal agreements were announced following the talks.
France demands stronger ceasefire oversight
The strikes occurred on the same day Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss the ongoing violations of the ceasefire.
In a statement, the Élysée Palace said Macron called for “a strengthening of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism,” noting that Israel has not yet completed its agreed withdrawal from southern Lebanese territory.
“France is determined to support full implementation of the Nov. 26 ceasefire agreement,” the French presidency added. “This includes a complete Israeli withdrawal and an end to ongoing violations.”
Macron also reaffirmed France’s support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the state’s exclusive control over weapons within Lebanon.
Both leaders stressed the need to renew and reinforce the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to prevent further escalation. EFE
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