Lebanon President Orders Army to Confront Israeli Incursions Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Violations

Despite the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to maintain military presence in five areas across southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has issued direct orders to the Lebanese army to confront any Israeli incursions following a deadly raid conducted by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

The Israeli military confirmed conducting the operation, stating they were targeting Hezbollah infrastructure when their forces opened fire on a "suspect" during the mission.

Although a ceasefire with Hezbollah was established in November 2024, Israel has kept troops stationed in five southern Lebanese areas and continues to conduct regular air strikes in the region.

During a meeting with Lebanon's army chief, President Aoun instructed the military to "confront any Israeli incursion into liberated southern territory, in defence of Lebanese territory and the safety of citizens," according to an official statement from the presidency.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incursion, describing it as "a flagrant aggression against Lebanese state institutions and sovereignty."

Earlier that day, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli troops "stormed the Blida municipality building, where employee Ibrahim Salameh was sleeping, and enemy soldiers proceeded to kill him." The Lebanese health ministry later confirmed Salameh's death.

An AFP journalist documented bullet holes in the walls and windows of the municipal building in Blida. In the room where Salameh had been sleeping, blood stained the floor, blankets, and mattress, with his personal belongings scattered throughout the area.

According to the mayor of Blida, Salameh had been sleeping in the building because he was on duty. Most homes in the village were destroyed during last year's conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Village residents cited by NNA reported that the raid continued for several hours before Israeli forces withdrew at dawn.

The Israeli military stated that during their operation to "dismantle Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the Blida area in southern Lebanon, the troops identified a suspect inside the structure." They added that "an immediate threat against the troops was identified, and they fired to remove it," noting the "incident is under review."

Israel accused Hezbollah of using the building "for terrorist activity under the guise of civilian infrastructure."

In the nearby border village of Adaisseh, NNA also reported that Israeli forces demolished a hall used for religious ceremonies at dawn.

Hezbollah initially began launching cross-border attacks on Israel after the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, which led to a conflict lasting over a year before culminating in two months of open warfare prior to the ceasefire agreement.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued conducting air strikes in Lebanon—typically claiming to target Hezbollah positions—and has intensified these attacks in recent days.

On Thursday, the Israeli military announced another strike, stating they targeted "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure, including a launcher and tunnel shaft in the area of Mahmudiyah in southern Lebanon."

Jeremy Laurence, spokesman for the UN rights commission, stated on Tuesday that Israeli forces had killed 111 Lebanese civilians since the ceasefire took effect.

Hezbollah was significantly weakened during the conflict, and the United States has increased pressure on Lebanese authorities to disarm the Iran-backed organization.

During a meeting of ceasefire monitors in the Lebanese border city of Naqoura on Wednesday, US envoy Morgan Ortagus stated that Washington welcomed the "decision to bring all weapons under state control by the end of the year," adding that the Lebanese army "must now fully implement its plan."