[🇱🇧] Monitoring Israel and Lebanon War

[Saif]

Israeli strike kills one in south Lebanon

An Israeli strike targeting a vehicle killed one person in south Lebanon on Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry said, according to state media.

www.newagebd.net

Israeli strike kills one in south Lebanon
Agence France-Presse . Beirut, Lebanon 15 March, 2025, 22:21

An Israeli strike targeting a vehicle killed one person in south Lebanon on Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry said, according to state media.

‘A strike by the Israeli enemy on a car in the town of Burj al-Muluk [near the Israeli border] led to the death of one citizen,’ the ministry’s emergency unit was quoted as saying by state news agency NNA.

The Israeli military later said it ‘struck a Hezbollah terrorist who took part in terrorist activity in the area of Kfarkela in southern Lebanon’.

A November 27 truce largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of full-blown war in which Israel sent in ground troops.

Israel has continued to carry out periodic strikes on Lebanese territory since the agreement took effect.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it carried out an air strike in southern Lebanon that killed a senior Hezbollah militant who was reportedly responsible for a drone and rocket arsenal.

It came as Lebanon received four detainees who had been taken to Israel during fighting with Hezbollah, with a fifth detainee, a soldier, released on Thursday after he was taken earlier this month.

Israel had been due to withdraw from Lebanon by February 18 after missing a January deadline, but it has kept troops at five locations it deems ‘strategic’.

The ceasefire also required Hezbollah to pull back north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres from the border, and to dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.​

 

[Saif]

Girl among two dead as Israel strikes Lebanon

Israel conducted deadly strikes on Lebanon yesterday in response to a rocket attack from across the border, as militant group Hezbollah denied responsibility for the launch.

www.thedailystar.net

Girl among two dead as Israel strikes Lebanon
Fatah urges Hamas to relinquish power to safeguard Palestinians

Smoke rises from Taibeh, following Israeli strikes in response to cross-border rocket fire, as seen from Marjayoun in southern Lebanon, March 22, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Karamallah Daher

Israel conducted deadly strikes on Lebanon yesterday in response to a rocket attack from across the border, as militant group Hezbollah denied responsibility for the launch.

Lebanon's official National News Agency reported one girl among two killed in an Israeli strike on the southern town of Touline, amid the largest escalation of attacks since a November 27 ceasefire.

The Israeli army had said earlier that three rockets, all of which were intercepted, were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, setting off air raid sirens in the region for the first time since November.

"Hezbollah denies any involvement in the rocket fire from southern Lebanon into the occupied Palestinian territories (Israel)," the Iran-backed group said in a statement, calling Israel's accusations "pretexts for its continued attacks on Lebanon".

The Iran-backed group said that it stands "with the Lebanese state in addressing this dangerous Zionist escalation on Lebanon".

While Hezbollah has long held sway over areas of Lebanon bordering Israel, other Lebanese and Palestinian groups have also carried out cross-border attacks.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned the country risked being dragged into a "new war" after months of relative calm.

But Israeli defence chiefs said they held the Lebanese government responsible for all hostile fire from its territory regardless of who launched it.

"We cannot allow fire from Lebanon on Galilee communities," Defence Minister Israel Katz said, referring to towns and villages in the north, many of which were evacuated after Hezbollah began firing on Israel in support of Hamas in October 2023.

"The Lebanese government is responsible for attacks from its territory. I have ordered the military to respond accordingly," Katz said.

Armed forces chief Eyal Zamir warned the military would "respond severely".

NNA said Israeli air strikes and shelling had targeted several areas of the south.

One Israeli strike killed two people including a girl in Touline, NNA reported. It had earlier reported Israeli strikes wounded two people in the border village of Kfarkila.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said it was "alarmed by the possible escalation of violence" following the morning's rocket fire.

Hezbollah has long held sway in much of south and east Lebanon, as well as south Beirut, but the group was dealt devastating blows, including the killing of longtime chief Hassan Nasrallah, during its war with Israel.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah is supposed to pull its forces back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Israel is supposed to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions it deems "strategic".

Israel has carried out repeated air strikes during the ceasefire that it said targeted Hezbollah military sites that violated the agreement.

Saturday's flare-up on the Lebanese border came five days into Israel's renewed offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza, which shattered the relative calm that had reigned since a January 19 ceasefire.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement yesterday called on its Islamist rivals Hamas to relinquish power in order to safeguard the "existence" of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"Hamas must show compassion for Gaza, its children, women and men," Fatah spokesman Monther al-Hayek said in a message sent to AFP from Gaza.

He called on Hamas to "step aside from governing and fully recognise that the battle ahead will lead to the end of Palestinians' existence" if it remains in power in Gaza.

Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007 from the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, and subsequent attempts at reconciliation have failed.

Israel's defence minister said Friday that he had ordered the army to "seize more territory in Gaza".

"The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel," Katz said.

The return to military operations was coordinated with US President Donald Trump's administration but drew widespread condemnation.

Hamas took issue Saturday with Washington's characterisation of its position, insisting that it stood ready to release all its remaining hostages as part of a promised second stage of the ceasefire.

"The claim that 'Hamas chose war instead of releasing the hostages' is a distortion of the facts," the group said.

When the first stage of the ceasefire expired early this month, Israel rejected negotiations for the promised second stage, calling instead for the return of all its remaining hostages under an extended first stage.

That would have meant delaying talks on a lasting ceasefire, and was rejected by Hamas as an attempt to renegotiate the original deal.​

 

[Saif]

One dead as Israel resumes drone strike

Lebanon’s health ministry said one person was killed yesterday in an Israeli drone strike, a day after the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah.

www.thedailystar.net

South Lebanon

One dead as Israel resumes drone strike

Lebanon's health ministry said one person was killed yesterday in an Israeli drone strike, a day after the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah.

"The Israeli enemy raid with a drone on a car in Aita al-Shaab led to the death of one citizen," the health ministry said, after the official National News Agency (NNA) had reported the strike on the southern village.

The NNA also reported separate Israeli strikes yesterday on Naqurah, Shihin and Labbouneh in the south, near the Israeli border.

The Lebanese health ministry said seven people were killed on Saturday, including in an attack on Tyre which a security source told AFP targeted a Hezbollah official.​

 

[Lulldapull]

Iran is waiting to see how the politics play out. Hezb is being told keep it tight until further notice.

 

[Saif]

Hezbollah hands over most south Lebanon sites to army

Most military sites belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon have been placed under Lebanese army control, a source close to the group said on Saturday.

www.newagebd.net

Hezbollah hands over most south Lebanon sites to army
Agence France-Presse . Beirut, Lebanon 12 April, 2025, 22:25

United Nations peacekeepers drive in vehicles of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) past destroyed buildings while patroling in Lebanon's southern village of Kfar Kila close to the border with Israel on April 6, 2025. | AFP photo

Most military sites belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon have been placed under Lebanese army control, a source close to the group said on Saturday.

A November 27 ceasefire that ended more than a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of full-blown war, stipulated that only United Nations peacekeepers and Lebanon’s army should be deployed in the country’s south.

The deal required the Iran-backed militant group to dismantle its remaining military infrastructure in the south and move its fighters north of the Litani River, which is about 30 kilometres from the Israeli border.

‘Out of 265 Hezbollah military positions identified south of the Litani, the movement has ceded about 190 to the army,’ the source said on condition of anonymity.

Under the ceasefire, Israel was to complete its troop withdrawal from Lebanon by February 18 after missing a January deadline, but it has kept troops in five places it deems strategic.

Israel has continued to strike what it says are Hezbollah infrastructure or members of the group in Lebanon.

The United States deputy special envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, discussed disarming Hezbollah with senior Lebanese figures during her visit to the country a week ago, a Lebanese official said.

In an interview with Lebanese television channel LBCI, Ortagus said that ‘we continue to press on this government to fully fulfill the cessation of hostilities, and that includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias’.

She said it should happen ‘as soon as possible’.

The United States chairs a committee, which also includes France, tasked with overseeing the ceasefire.

Following the attack against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza in October 2023, Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel in support of the Palestinians.

Months of cross-border exchanges with Israeli forces degenerated into full-blown war last September, leaving Hezbollah severely weakened.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 4,000 people were killed in the hostilities.​

 

[Lulldapull]

At the same time Iran's reconstituted Hamas with 40k new well trained fighters in Gaza.

How Iran pulls this off is really a mystery.......lol

 

[Saif]

Israel kills 71 civilians in Lebanon since ceasefire: UN

Israeli forces have killed dozens of civilians in Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect late last year, including a number of women and children, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

www.newagebd.net

Israel kills 71 civilians in Lebanon since ceasefire: UN
Agence France-Presse . Geneva 15 April, 2025, 22:44

Israeli forces have killed dozens of civilians in Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect late last year, including a number of women and children, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

The UN rights office reported that Israeli military operations had killed and injured civilians in Lebanon in the four months since the fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27.

‘According to our initial review, at least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect,’ rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva.

‘Among the victims are 14 women and 9 children,’ he said, urging that ‘the violence must stop immediately’.

The delicate truce between Israel and Hezbollah came after more than a year of hostilities initiated by the Iran-backed militant group over the Gaza conflict, including two months of all-out war when Israel also sent in ground troops.

But months after the agreed end to fighting, Kheetan warned that people in Lebanon ‘people remain gripped by fear, and over 92,000 are still displaced from their homes’.

The rights office noted that Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory had hit civilian infrastructure since the ceasefire, including residential buildings, medical facilities, roads and at least one cafe.

The southern suburbs of Beirut were also hit in early April for the first time since the ceasefire took effect, in two different incidents, Kheetan said, adding that the area targeted was near two schools.

‘A strike on a residential building in the early morning of April 1 killed two civilians and caused significant damage to neighbouring buildings,’ he said.

Two days later, ‘Israeli airstrikes hit a newly established medical centre run by the Islamic Health Society in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, completely destroying the centre and damaging two ambulances’, he said.

He added that ‘multiple Israeli airstrikes on several towns in the south of Lebanon reportedly killed at least six people’ between April 4 and 8.

Israel had also faced attacks since the truce took effect, Kheetan said.

Since last November, at least five rockets, two mortars and a drone were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, he said, citing figures from the Israeli army, adding that ‘tens of thousands of Israelis are still reportedly displaced from the north’.

Kheetan demanded that all parties to the conflict ‘respect international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution’.

‘There must be prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law, and those found responsible must be held to account.’​

 

[Lulldapull]

Israel kills 71 civilians in Lebanon since ceasefire: UN

Israeli forces have killed dozens of civilians in Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect late last year, including a number of women and children, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

www.newagebd.net

Israel kills 71 civilians in Lebanon since ceasefire: UN
Agence France-Presse . Geneva 15 April, 2025, 22:44

Israeli forces have killed dozens of civilians in Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect late last year, including a number of women and children, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

The UN rights office reported that Israeli military operations had killed and injured civilians in Lebanon in the four months since the fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27.

‘According to our initial review, at least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect,’ rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva.

‘Among the victims are 14 women and 9 children,’ he said, urging that ‘the violence must stop immediately’.

The delicate truce between Israel and Hezbollah came after more than a year of hostilities initiated by the Iran-backed militant group over the Gaza conflict, including two months of all-out war when Israel also sent in ground troops.

But months after the agreed end to fighting, Kheetan warned that people in Lebanon ‘people remain gripped by fear, and over 92,000 are still displaced from their homes’.

The rights office noted that Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory had hit civilian infrastructure since the ceasefire, including residential buildings, medical facilities, roads and at least one cafe.

The southern suburbs of Beirut were also hit in early April for the first time since the ceasefire took effect, in two different incidents, Kheetan said, adding that the area targeted was near two schools.

‘A strike on a residential building in the early morning of April 1 killed two civilians and caused significant damage to neighbouring buildings,’ he said.

Two days later, ‘Israeli airstrikes hit a newly established medical centre run by the Islamic Health Society in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, completely destroying the centre and damaging two ambulances’, he said.

He added that ‘multiple Israeli airstrikes on several towns in the south of Lebanon reportedly killed at least six people’ between April 4 and 8.

Israel had also faced attacks since the truce took effect, Kheetan said.

Since last November, at least five rockets, two mortars and a drone were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, he said, citing figures from the Israeli army, adding that ‘tens of thousands of Israelis are still reportedly displaced from the north’.

Kheetan demanded that all parties to the conflict ‘respect international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution’.

‘There must be prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law, and those found responsible must be held to account.’​

Hezb alone has killed well over 6k IDF since Oct 7th and seriously injured double that number.

Israel is not happy with Hezb........

 

[Saif]

2 killed in strikes on Lebanon

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said Sunday that disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah group was a ‘delicate’ matter whose implementation required the right circumstances, warning that forcing the issue could lead the country to ruin.

www.newagebd.net

2 killed in strikes on Lebanon
Agence France-Presse . Beirut 20 April, 2025, 23:18

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said Sunday that disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah group was a ‘delicate’ matter whose implementation required the right circumstances, warning that forcing the issue could lead the country to ruin.

His remarks came as Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed in Israeli strikes in the country’s south, the latest such raids despite a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.

Restricting the bearing of arms to the state is ‘a sensitive, delicate issue that is fundamental to preserving civil peace’ and requires due ‘consideration and responsibility’, Aoun told reporters.

‘We will implement’ a state monopoly on bearing arms ‘but we have to wait for the circumstances’ to allow this, he said, adding that ‘nobody is speaking to me about timing or pressure’.

‘Any controversial domestic issue in Lebanon can only be approached through conciliatory, non-confrontational dialogue and communication. If not, we will lead Lebanon to ruin,’ he added.

Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanon, was left weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel, sparked by the Gaza war, including an Israeli ground incursion and two months of heavy bombardment that decimated the group’s leadership.

On Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the group ‘will not let anyone disarm’ it, as Washington presses Beirut to compel the movement to hand over its weapons.

Qassem said his group was ready for dialogue on a ‘defence strategy’, ‘but not under the pressure of occupation’ by Israel.

Israel has continued to conduct regular strikes in Lebanon despite a November 27 ceasefire and still holds five positions in south Lebanon that it deems ‘strategic’.

On Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry said an ‘Israeli enemy strike on a vehicle in Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad’, located inland between the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre, killed ‘one person’ and wounded two others.

It later said a separate ‘Israeli enemy’ strike ‘on a house in Hula’, near the border, killed one person.

The Israeli military did not immediately release any official statement on the strikes.

Qassem’s comments came hours after another senior Hezbollah official said the group would refuse to discuss handing over its weapons until Israel withdrew completely from south Lebanon.

US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus this month said disarming Hezbollah should happen ‘as soon as possible’.

Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon’s Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south, while Israel was to withdraw all its forces.

Lebanon’s army has been deploying as Israeli troops have withdrawn and has also been dismantling any Hezbollah military infrastructure.

The army said on Sunday that its forces had confiscated rockets and launchers in south Lebanon’s Sidon-Zahrani area and detained a number of people over a plan to fire them towards Israeli-held territory, without saying if those detained were affiliated with any group.

On Wednesday, the army said it had arrested several people suspected of firing rockets at Israel from Lebanon last month, with a security official telling AFP that three members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas were among those held.​

 

[Saif]

Israeli strike kills Lebanese leader in Beirut

A military leader from Hamas-aligned Lebanese Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya died Tuesday in an Israeli strike south of Beirut, a security official said, as authorities reported another dead in a separate raid.

www.newagebd.net

Israeli strike kills Lebanese leader in Beirut
Agence France-Presse . Beirut 22 April, 2025, 22:36

Security forces and forensic experts inspect a car targeted by an Israeli air strike near Damour. | AFP photo

A military leader from Hamas-aligned Lebanese Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya died Tuesday in an Israeli strike south of Beirut, a security official said, as authorities reported another dead in a separate raid.

Israel has continued to carry out regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November truce with militant group Hezbollah that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities between the foes including two months of all-out war.

Lebanon’s civil defence said ‘an Israeli drone targeted a car’ near the coastal town of Damour, about 20 kilometres south of Beirut, and rescuers recovered a man’s body from the vehicle.

Jamaa Islamiya in a statement announced the death of Hussein Atoui, described as ‘an academic leader and university professor’.

It said an Israeli drone strike ‘targeted his car as he was travelling to his workplace in Beirut’.

A security official said Atoui was a leader of Jamaa Islamiya’s armed wing, the Al-Fajr Forces.

An AFP photographer saw the charred wreckage of a car at the scene. The Lebanese army had cordoned off the area and forensic teams were conducting an inspection.

Jamaa Islamiya, closely linked to both Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israel before the November 27 ceasefire.

Also Tuesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said an ‘Israeli enemy’ strike in south Lebanon’s Tyre district killed one person.

Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon’s Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, but troops remain in five positions that it deems ‘strategic’. Israel on Sunday said it killed two senior members of Hezbollah in strikes on Lebanon.

After unclaimed rocket fire against Israel in late March, Lebanon’s army said last week it had arrested several Lebanese and Palestinian suspects, while a security official said they included three Hamas members.​