Israeli Strikes Kill 4 in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Cross-Border Tensions
Targeted drone and airstrikes hit vehicles in Maaroub and Yahmor al-Shaqif as Beirut urges international pressure to stop Israeli escalation.
Watan-The Israeli occupation targeted two vehicles in the towns of Maaroub and Yater (Yahmor al-Shaqif) in southern Lebanon, resulting in four martyrs and at least one injury. Additionally, a civilian was wounded in the town of Houla after an Israeli drone dropped a bomb while flying over the area.
On Thursday morning, three people were martyred when the Israeli occupation army struck a vehicle in the Dabbash neighborhood, east of Yahmor al-Shaqif. This came just hours after a similar strike on a vehicle in the town of Maaroub, which killed one person and injured another.
In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli army claimed it targeted several Hezbollah members who were transporting weapons in the Yahmor al-Shaqif area. A few days ago, the Israeli army had launched a series of airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon, resulting in deaths and injuries, following a rocket attack on Israeli towns that Hezbollah denied responsibility for at the time.
Lebanon Urges Global Pressure to Halt Israeli Violations
French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut on Wednesday. According to the Lebanese presidency, the meeting addressed the situation in the south amid continued Israeli aggression, which violates the ceasefire agreement reached in November. The discussion also covered Israel’s ongoing occupation of the “five hills” and the continued detention of Lebanese prisoners captured during the last war. President Aoun stressed the need for the agreement’s sponsors to pressure Israel to comply, in order to preserve their credibility and ensure the agreement’s implementation to restore stability and halt hostilities.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Wednesday, during a meeting with a delegation from the Editors Syndicate, that “the situation in the south is concerning amid ongoing Israeli aggressions, especially after last week’s rocket launch.” He emphasized the continued international and Arab pressure on Israel to stop its attacks, adding that “we have not yet exhausted all political and diplomatic means of pressure.” He also noted that “the five points that Israel insists on occupying hold no military or security value other than maintaining pressure on Lebanon.”
In the same context, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji urged for pressure on Israel to stop its aggressions during phone calls he made last Saturday with several Arab and international officials. According to a statement by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, reported by Anadolu Agency, Raji contacted Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty, Jordan’s Ayman Safadi, France’s Jean-Noël Barrot, Morgan Ortagus (Deputy U.S. Envoy for Middle East Peace), and Natasha Franceschi (Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs).
Tensions Rise as Lebanon Seeks to Contain Southern Escalation
The ministry added that these calls were part of diplomatic efforts to curb the escalating situation in southern Lebanon, conducted in consultation and coordination with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Raji urged these officials to pressure Israel to stop its aggression and contain the dangerous situation along the southern border.
Following Saturday’s rocket fire from Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened a forceful response, holding the Lebanese government fully responsible. The Israeli newspaper Maariv stated that Hezbollah is “testing Israel” and added that “the result of the test will be determined by the response, which in turn will shape the future of the north.” The newspaper questioned whether the response would be limited to the launch site or extend to include Beirut.
Hezbollah denied any involvement in the rocket attack and confirmed in a statement that “the Israeli enemy’s claims are merely pretexts to continue its aggressions against Lebanon, which have not ceased since the ceasefire announcement.” Hezbollah reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and declared its support for the Lebanese state in addressing this dangerous Zionist escalation against Lebanon.
