Israel Launches Series of Raids in South Lebanon Following Warnings
On Thursday, Israeli fighter jets carried out raids on targets in Tayr Debba, Aita al-Jabal, and Taybeh. ©Al-Markazia

Tensions rose sharply in southern Lebanon on Thursday as the Israeli army launched a series of air raids hitting alleged Hezbollah targets in several villages.

In the late afternoon, the town of Kfardunin (Bint Jbeil) was targeted after the Israeli army issued a warning to residents located near the building that was hit, located about ten meters from a Lebanese Army post.

The raids followed evacuation warnings to residents of specified buildings in the villages of Aita al-Jabal, Taybeh, Tayr Debba, and Zawtar al-Sharqiya. The ministry of Health reported one injury in Tayr Debba.

On his X account, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted maps of the designated areas, urging civilians to distance themselves 500 meters from buildings which he said are “Hezbollah military infrastructure.”

The strikes triggered a growing displacement movement from villages across the caza of Tyre, as panic-stricken residents evacuated areas perceived to be at risk of further escalation.

Earlier on Thursday, one person was killed and three others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on the area between Burj Rahhal and Abbasiyeh, also in the Tyre district. The victim was later identified as Ahmed Muhammad Jaafar (known as Abu Ali). The raid sparked panic among schoolchildren in Maaraka, Abbasiya, Tura, and Tyre, as ambulances rushed to the site.

Following the strike, Adraee said the target was a facility operated by Hezbollah, describing it as “infrastructure used to produce equipment for reconstructing sites destroyed during the war.”

An Israeli drone also targeted a motorcycle in Ain Qana and dropped a bomb along the Ras al-Naqoura coastline.

Israeli warplanes were also reported flying over Hermel and northern Bekaa villages, while Tyre experienced heavy reconnaissance overflights throughout the morning.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire in November last year, under a deal backed by the United States, France and international mediators, but Israeli strikes on Hezbollah have continued as it accuses the group of trying to rebuild its forces.

"We will not allow Hezbollah to rearm themselves, to recover, build back up its strength, to threaten the state of Israel," Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told reporters, accusing the group of "continuous terrorist activities."

Due to the intensification of Israeli airstrikes, several of which targeted areas near public and private schools in the districts of Tyre and Nabatiyeh, most schools and universities in the Nabatiyeh region, as well as villages hit by the raids in the Tyre area, announced the suspension of classes for Friday.

Israel warned last week it could intensify operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the group of trying to rearm, after it suffered staggering losses in the last war.

 

 

 

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