UPDATE 2 – Lebanese army says Israeli fire targets new border post in southern Lebanon

UPDATES WITH ANOTHER ISRAELI ATTACK

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Lebanese army said Tuesday that Israeli fire targeted a newly established monitoring post along the southern border, in a new violation of a November 2024 ceasefire.

A military statement said that while army forces were setting up a monitoring point near Sarda in the Marjayoun district, the vicinity of the post came under fire from the Israeli side.

An Israeli drone flew at low altitude over the area and issued threats aimed at forcing Lebanese troops to withdraw, the army added.

The military said it has ordered reinforcements to the post and instructed personnel to remain in position and respond to sources of fire.

The army said it is following up on the incident with the ceasefire oversight committee and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lebanon’s state news agency NNA also reported that Israeli forces threw stun grenades and opened fire from the newly established El Hamames position towards Lebanese soldiers in Sarda.

According to the outlet, an Israeli drone also flew over the site and demanded Lebanese soldiers to evacuate the area.

The Israeli army, for its part, confirmed that it had fired warning shots toward Lebanese soldiers after they established the post “without coordination.”

A military statement said army forces had called out toward Lebanese soldiers and reached out through coordination and liaison channels to stop the work.

“After no response was received, IDF (army) troops carried out warning shots to stop the activity,” the army said.

The latest attack came amid repeated Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024, killing and wounding hundreds of Lebanese. Israel continues to occupy five Lebanese hilltops seized during the latest war, in addition to other Lebanese areas it has held for decades.

*Writing by Rania Abushamala