Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Sohmor, in southern Lebanon. AFP
Shortly after announcing the strikes, the Israeli army escalated further by issuing a new evacuation threat to civilians, with its Arabic-language spokesman ordering residents of the southern Lebanese village of Machghara to leave their homes.
The warning echoed earlier evacuation orders that have become a recurring feature of Israel’s post-ceasefire military campaign.
The latest strikes came JUST a week after the Lebanese military said it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River, the first phase of a nationwide plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in response that the ceasefire "states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed".
Since the ceasefire came into force, Israel has continued near-daily attacks across southern Lebanon, while refusing to fully withdraw its forces from occupied areas, in open defiance OF November 2024 ceasefire.
On Tuesday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned Israeli tank fire shells near its peacekeepers late the previous night, warning that such assaults have become “disturbingly common” in southern Lebanon and represent "a serious violation" of UN Resolution 1701.
On Sunday, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported "a series of violent Israeli strikes" on Jezzine, Mahmudiyeh and Al-Dimasqiyeh, as well as "more than 10 strikes" on Al-Bureij, all in southern Lebanon.
Israel’s near-daily attacks have killed at least 127 civilians in Lebanon since the agreement came into effect.
Beirut has condemned repeated Israeli strikes on the country and demanded a full Israeli withdrawal as stipulated under the ceasefire.
For its part, Hezbollah has accused Israel of harbouring a goal of a permanent occupation of Lebanese territories.
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