Escalation on the Lebanon-Israel Border: Airstrikes, Tensions and Repression Threats
Israeli strikes in Ainata: house targeted, March 17, 2025. ©This is Beirut

Sunday saw a resurgence of tensions in southern Lebanon, along the border with Israel.

Around two o'clock in the morning, two consecutive Israeli drone strikes killed two people. The first strike, targeting a car in Yater, in the Bint Jbeil district, killed a member of the Srour family. The second, hitting a car in Mays el-Jabal, in the Marjayoun district, resulted in another fatality.

In this regard, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that "the army eliminated two Hezbollah militants who were conducting reconnaissance operations in the Yater and Mays el-Jabal areas of southern Lebanon," asserting that "their activity constituted a violation of the agreement between Israel and Lebanon."

Additionally, Apache helicopter strikes targeted three prefabricated houses in Kfar Kila—one near the Fatima Gate and two others in the village center—while a drone simultaneously dropped four stun grenades.

In the evening, the Israeli army announced that it had targeted the headquarters of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, along with buildings used by the group in southern Lebanon.

Shortly after 7 p.m., two successive Israeli airstrikes hit the outskirts of the village of Ainata, in the Bint Jbeil district. According to preliminary reports, a house was targeted. The strikes resulted in two deaths and several injuries, according to an initial toll. Rescuers were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Earlier, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on a civilian inspecting his home, located across from Mount Balat on the western outskirts of Ramiyeh. Gunfire from the Israeli army also targeted a motorcycle in Odaisseh, but no injuries were reported.

Katz: Any Further Violation of the Ceasefire Will Be Met with Force

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the Israeli Army would "respond to fire from Lebanon and that any further violation of the ceasefire will be met with force." Katz’s statement came after the Israeli Army claimed that bullets fired from Lebanon had pierced the windshield of a vehicle in the border town of Avivim.

Earlier in the afternoon, gunfire had targeted a car in the Avivim settlement in the Upper Galilee, near the Lebanese border.

According to Yediot Aharonot, citing security sources, "it seems the shooting was related to funerals held in the town of Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon." The radio station reported that no injuries were caused by the gunfire.

The Israeli Army has launched an investigation to "determine if the shots originated from Lebanon."

Yediot Aharonot also reported that residents of Avivim "were instructed to stay in their homes," while the Army "continued its investigation."

Israeli Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee also commented, stating in a post on X that "it appears the shots were fired from within Lebanon, where Israeli forces are sweeping the area."

"Firing from Lebanon into Israeli territory is a violation of the agreements between Israel and Lebanon," he concluded.

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