Airstrikes Crack Fragile Ceasefire
On Thursday, Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon, issuing evacuation warnings for the villages of Al-Tayyiba, Tayr Debba and Aita al-Jabal. The operation targets Hezbollah military positions along the border.
Casualties and Displacement
Lebanese sources reported that the strikes killed one person and injured eight others in the municipality of Toura, and injured one more in Tayr Debba. Heavy traffic was reported as residents fled the targeted areas, and several private schools in Nabatieh closed to protect students and staff.
Escalation Trends
Sources say that during the first week of November alone, Israel carried out 22 military operations—including air raids, artillery shelling and house demolitions. These actions resulted in eight deaths, ten injuries, the destruction of six homes, the burning of four bulldozers and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. In October, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported 28 killed and 54 injured from Israeli shelling.
Lebanese Army and UN Response
A senior Lebanese military intelligence source stated that the Lebanese army is clearing areas south of the Litani River of weapons and militants, establishing positions in 118 locations and destroying dozens of militia sites and tunnels. The army has completed about 90 percent of its first-phase mission, set to conclude by year-end.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon urged restraint on both sides and called for open communication channels to avoid miscalculation along the Blue Line.
Political Tensions and Analysis
Hezbollah issued an open letter to Lebanon's top leaders, warning against slipping into negotiation traps and rejecting demands for disarmament as a precondition for ending hostilities.
Lebanese analyst Nidal Issa describes the strikes as part of an Israeli pressure-by-fire policy aimed at imposing conditions on Hezbollah before sliding into full-scale war. Advisor Refaat Badawi views the escalation as an attempt to push Lebanon toward direct or indirect negotiations, potentially leading to normalization of ties under Israeli terms.
On the Brink
With a ceasefire in place since November 27, 2024, sporadic strikes and military operations have raised fears of renewed conflict. Lebanon now stands on the edge of a potential confrontation as both sides weigh the risks of escalation.
Reference(s):
Fresh Israeli airstrikes hit S. Lebanon, testing fragile ceasefire
cgtn.com
