Violations of the ceasefire agreement escalated in southern Lebanon for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, with Israeli airstrikes, drone attacks and ground incursions causing casualties and damage.
In Rab al-Thalathin, an Israeli drone strike killed Hezbollah fighter Hassan Hamad Fakih. Two people were also injured, including Baker Jawad Hashim, another fighter of the pro-Iranian group.
The Saida district witnessed further attacks as Tibnah endured its second airstrike on Saturday, which wounded one person.
In Majdel Zoun, an Israeli drone attack on a vehicle injured three people, including a seven-year-old child, according to Lebanon’s Public Health Ministry’s Emergency Operations Center.
The town of Aitaroun in the Bint Jbeil district was subjected to Israeli ground operations. Soldiers advanced into neighborhoods, raised barricades to block roads and set fire to a vehicle belonging to a civilian.
A Merkava tank reportedly crushed several cars and surrounded families, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assisting in evacuations.
Meanwhile, heavy machine gunfire targeted a government building in Bint Jbeil, forcing police to retreat.
The ICRC was denied access to Bayt Lif and Aitaroun for a third time to evacuate injured civilians.
An Israeli drone also flew at low altitude over Saida, while Israeli forces reportedly destroyed missile launchers in Saida and a vehicle connected to rocket production.
In a related development, an emergency directive was issued to residents of southern Lebanon, prohibiting movement south of the Litani River from 5:00 PM to 7:00 AM the following day.
Residents currently south of the Litani River were instructed to remain in place. The authorities emphasized strict adherence to these measures for personal safety.
Israeli military spokespersons accused Hezbollah of using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, alleging the presence of weapons in a mosque in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Strikes on Syria Target Hezbollah Operations
On the Syrian side, Israeli airstrikes targeted border crossings in the southern Homs countryside, specifically Jussiyeh, al-Jubaneh and al-Houz.
The attacks were aimed at dismantling Hezbollah operations and reportedly caused damage to the Lebanese General Security Center in Hermel.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused Hezbollah of using these crossings to transfer weapons from Syria to Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Adraee described the alleged weapons transfers as a threat to Israeli security and claimed the operations were conducted with the Syrian regime's support.
Israeli forces vowed continued action to address what they consider threats posed by Hezbollah’s military activities in both Syria and Lebanon.
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