Israeli warplanes strike 2 residential buildings in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

By Wassim Seifeddine and Mohammad Sio

BEIRUT / ISTANBUL (AA) – Israeli warplanes struck two residential buildings Thursday evening in southern Lebanon, in a new violation of a ceasefire agreement in place since November 2024, witnesses said.

Multiple airstrikes targeted the two buildings in the town of Sohmor in western Bekaa region, after warnings for residents to evacuate the area, the witnesses said.

No casualties were reported.

Earlier Thursday, the Israeli army warned residents of Sohmor to evacuate several buildings near locations it intended to target, claiming the sites were being used by Hezbollah.

In recent weeks, Israeli media reported that the army has completed preparations for a potential large-scale attack against Hezbollah positions if the Lebanese government and army fail to dismantle the group’s weapons.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah ended more than a year of cross-border attacks amid the war in Gaza. More than 4,000 people were killed, and 17,000 others were injured.

Under the ceasefire, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but it only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.