Israel's Air Force Strikes Lebanon, Targeting Hezbollah and Hamas Sites
SIDON, LEBANON (AP) - In a series of air strikes on Monday and Tuesday, Israel's air force targeted areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, including Sidon, the country's third-largest city. The strikes came as Lebanon's army commander was set to brief the government on its mission to disarm the militant group Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel.
One of the most significant strikes occurred around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, when a three-story commercial building in Sidon was leveled. The building was located in a commercial district, containing workshops and mechanic shops, and was uninhabited at the time. No deaths were reported, but at least one person was transported by ambulance, and rescue teams were searching for others.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the attacks, stating that they go against international efforts to de-escalate hostilities and Lebanon's efforts to extend the government's authority and disarm militants in areas long dominated by Hezbollah. The Lebanese government is scheduled to discuss Hezbollah's disarmament during a meeting on Thursday, attended by army commander General Rudolph Haikal.
The strikes were the latest in a series of near-daily Israeli military actions since a ceasefire was signed over a year ago. This ceasefire included a Lebanese pledge to disarm militant groups, which Israel claims has not been fulfilled. The areas targeted were in villages north of the Litani River, far from the border with Israel, and the disarmament process of Hezbollah and other Palestinian groups by the Lebanese government followed a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, resulting in the death of much of the political and military leadership of the Iran-backed group.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on October 8, 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel, with Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel's widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion. The war ended in November 2024 with a ceasefire brokered by the U.S., but Israel has since carried out almost daily airstrikes, mainly targeting Hezbollah members, resulting in the deaths of at least 127 civilians, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
