The Israeli military has launched several air raids across south Lebanon, killing at least one person, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The strikes targeted areas near the towns of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Beit Lif, Ramia, al-Bisariya, Wadi al-Safa, and al-Sarira.
A municipal worker operating a water well in Nabatieh al-Fawqa was killed in an Israeli drone strike. The victim, Mahmoud Hasan Atwi, was “martyred” while trying to provide water for the people of the town, said the town’s mayor, Zein Ali Ghandour.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this blatant aggression against civilians and civilian infrastructure as well as the Lebanese state and its institutions,” Ghandour said in a statement. He called on the international community to press the issue and put an end to Israeli violations. The Israeli military claimed it fired at a “Hezbollah operative” who was “rehabilitating a site” used by the group.
In a separate attack, a person was killed by Israeli gunfire on the Lebanese border town of Kfar Kila, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military has been carrying out near-daily attacks in Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement it reached with Hezbollah in November last year, causing mostly civilian deaths and injuries.
Israel claims that its attacks are in enforcement of the ceasefire, which requires Hezbollah to pull its forces to the north of the Litani River, about 30km from the border. However, the Israeli military has been carrying out strikes in the entire country, not just south of the river.
Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, have repeatedly called on France and the US to pressure Israel to end its abuses. Hezbollah has warned that its patience may run out, but it is unclear if the group is capable of confronting Israel militarily.
Israel’s ability to confront Hezbollah militarily is however not in doubt.