Israel Military Strikes Hezbollah Site Amid Ceasefire Tensions
The Israel military reported that its navy successfully struck a Hezbollah “infrastructure site” near Naqoura in southern Lebanon on Saturday. The action came just a day after Israel’s foreign minister issued a stern warning to the Lebanese militant group, cautioning it against entering the broader Iran-Israel conflict zone.
According to an official statement from the Israel military, the strike took place overnight when a naval vessel targeted a facility operated by Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, describing it as “terrorist infrastructure” used to orchestrate attacks on Israeli civilians.
“Overnight, an military Navy vessel struck a Hezbollah ‘Radwan Force’ terrorist infrastructure site in the area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon,” the military asserted.
The statement emphasized that the site was specifically used to “advance terror attacks against Israeli civilians,” continuing a series of targeted operations aimed at curbing Hezbollah’s capabilities along the border.
Israel Military Actions Defy Ceasefire Agreement
Unusually, the military also announced that, just a day earlier, its forces “struck and eliminated” a Hezbollah militant in southern Lebanon. This operation occurred despite the November ceasefire designed to halt hostilities following months of cross-border violence triggered by Hezbollah’s support for Hamas after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Lebanese authorities later confirmed a civilian casualty: a man killed when an Israeli drone struck a motorcycle in a southern village—a reported violation of the ceasefire. Lebanon’s Health Ministry, via the state-run National News Agency, acknowledged that one person died in the drone strike
Though the ceasefire has held since November, dozens of violations have been reported by Lebanon, and instances of military action continue to escalate tensions. Lebanon’s army has been cooperating in dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure as part of the truce, but recent Israeli strikes and “refusal to cooperate” with ceasefire monitors have threatened to undermine that cooperation .
The situation has placed renewed pressure on peacekeeping mechanisms and the role of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) in monitoring activity along the Blue Line.
The Israel military has defended its actions as necessary defense measures against a persistent threat. Military officials claim that every operation targets Hezbollah assets directly connected to cross-border attacks, describing the militant group as an extension of Iranian influence in Lebanon.
A naval strike on the Naqoura site is part of broader efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s operational capabilities, particularly the Radwan Force, an elite unit believed responsible for sophisticated attacks. Meanwhile, drone strikes targeting militants riding motorcycles or operating vehicles have become part of asymmetric warfare tactics designed to disrupt Hezbollah’s mobility and command structure .
The continued Israel military operations have generated concern over civilian harm and the unraveling of the truce. Lebanese health authorities report both fatalities and injuries resulting from drone and naval attacks, including a recent incident near a school that injured nine civilians—some of them children—when a drone struck a motorcycle in the Tyre district.
Critics in Beirut accuse Israel of quantifying military objectives over civilian safety, pointing to the need for restraint and urging respect for ceasefire terms. In response, Israeli defense officials maintain that Hezbollah repeatedly violates the truce and uses civilian areas as cover, justifying precision strikes on confirmed militant targets.
International mediators, including France and the UN, continue to monitor the fragile situation. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres has warned that continued strikes could spark a wider conflict, urging both sides to exercise restraint .
Meanwhile, the Israel military maintains that it will target Hezbollah assets deemed a threat, reaffirming its right to self-defense amid an evolving regional conflict involving Iran. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and other Israeli officials have hinted at further military actions intended to neutralize threats before they escalate .
With both sides far from resolving key disagreements, the ceasefire remains fragile and conditional. The Israel military is poised to continue operations against perceived threats, while Lebanese authorities prepare to escalate diplomacy—or potentially pull back from ceasefire collaboration should civilian casualties mount.
As the conflict unfolds, observers will be watching closely to see whether these military strikes mark an increased militarization of the border, or whether regional efforts to mediate can prevent another open hostilities phase.
Source- EWN
