Israel's military said on Friday that it carried out strikes overnight targeting Hezbollah "weapon-smuggling routes" on the Syria-Lebanon border, just over a week into the fragile ceasefire.
Official media in both Lebanon and Syria reported that the air raid put the al-Arida border crossing in Akkar – already hit during the Israel-Hezbollah war – out of service.
Syrian state news agency SANA said that "the al-Arida border crossing between Syria and Lebanon is out of service again due to an Israeli attack that targeted it" early on Friday.
Lebanon's official National News Agency said the strike "led to damage to infrastructure" and cut off the border road "again after the bridge was repaired" following a previous attack.
Israel has struck border crossings between Syria and Lebanon numerous times, saying it aims to prevent weapons smuggling from Syria into Lebanon.
The Israeli air force "conducted strikes on weapon-smuggling routes and terror infrastructure sites located near the Syrian regime's crossings at the Syrian-Lebanese border," the military said in a statement that included a map identifying the crossing as al-Arida.
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Arida border crossing in #Akkar targeted by an Israeli raid at dawn on Friday pic.twitter.com/s5ovWP2dr0
The strikes hit multiple sites, including the al-Arida and al-Adra crossings and the Joussieh border crossing with Syria, rendering Joussieh out of service for the second time that morning.
Moreover, the outskirts of Zawtar near the Litani River, the area between Zawtar and Yohmor and locations in al-Qusayr, rural Homs, along the border strip have been hit.
Simultaneously, a defensive missile exploded over Jdeidet al-Qaitaa in Akkar, northern Lebanon. The debris fell into a valley, damaging solar panels on rooftops, as reported by An-Nahar.
At midday on Friday, General Security announced it was closing land border crossings in the north until further notice, keeping only the Masnaa crossing open for entry and exit
Increased Israeli Activity in Aitaroun
Israeli military vehicles and tanks were observed moving within Aitaroun in the Bint Jbeil district. At around 8 AM, the Israeli army launched a missile toward the locality, causing panic among residents. Some fled their homes due to the explosion.
Aerial Activity and Developments in Dahyeh
Israeli aircraft flew intensively over several Lebanese areas at dawn on Friday.
In the areas of al-Jnah and al-Ouzai, thick smoke covered the skies after fires reignited in a building previously targeted by Israeli strikes near Lavender Supermarket.
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