Israeli army launches airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

By Abdel Ra'ouf Arnaout, Wassim Samih Seifeddine and Rania Abushamala

JERUSALEM / BEIRUT / ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday, in a new violation of a ceasefire deal in effect since November 2024, Lebanese media reported.

Airstrikes hit near the Meis Castle area in the town of Ansar, and the towns of Barghuz and al-Mahmoudiyeh in the Jezzine district, the state news agency NNA said.

Warplanes also staged airstrikes along the Litani River, near the outskirts of al-Sreireh and Baraz towns, the outlet said.

Israeli fighter jets pounded the area between Ansar and Az-Zrariyah in southern Lebanon with heavy airstrikes, using missiles that caused loud explosions echoing across the region.

According to the agency, the Israeli army also launched an airstrike targeting the outskirts of Louaizeh town in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region. Other strikes targeted the Buslaya area on the outskirts of Jbaa, and the Wadi Kfar Melki area in the Sidon district.

No information was yet available about injuries.

The Israeli army claimed that the attacks targeted what it claimed were Hezbollah infrastructure sites in several areas of southern Lebanon.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or the Lebanese government on the attacks.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has ended more than a year of attacks that killed more than 4,000 people and injured 17,000 others against the backdrop of Israel's war in Gaza.

The Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon in January 2025 under the ceasefire, but instead only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.