Israeli troops conducted a raid in the southern Lebanese town of Blida overnight, resulting in the death of a municipal employee. State media reported that the troops, accompanied by drones and armored vehicles, entered the town hall, where the employee, identified as Ibrahim Salameh, was reportedly sleeping. The Israeli military stated that its forces were engaged in an operation to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and encountered a “suspect” inside the building, opening fire when an “immediate threat” was perceived. It remains unclear if Salameh was the direct target of the operation.
This incident has drawn sharp criticism from Lebanon, especially given the existing ceasefire that ended the 2006 war between the two nations. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has directed the army commander to confront any further Israeli incursions. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the killing and the raid as a “flagrant violation of Lebanese institutions and sovereignty.” He emphasized Lebanon’s commitment to pursuing international pressure on Israel to cease its repeated violations and to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The escalating Israeli strikes across Lebanon, targeting what Israel claims are Hezbollah positions, have heightened tensions. In response to the raid, residents in Blida and surrounding areas staged protests, blocking roads with burning tires to denounce the “blatant aggression” and what they perceive as the government’s failure to protect its citizens.
Further Israeli actions were reported, including an overnight operation in the nearby village of Adaisseh, where a religious ceremonial hall was reportedly destroyed. Israeli aircraft were also observed flying over southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, with drones seen over Beirut’s southern suburbs. The recent uptick in cross-border activity underscores the fragile security situation in the region.
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