Israel violates rules of engagement in southern Lebanon

A Lebanese soldier stands next to a damaged car in the southern town of Bazouriyeh, Lebanon, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 23 January 2024
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Israel violates rules of engagement in southern Lebanon

  • A security source stated that “although Israel violated the rules of engagement, it is still excluding civilians in general

BEIRUT: Israel has been found to have again violated the rules of engagement. Israeli warplanes launched air strikes on an open forest area located between Roumine, Houmin Al-Fawqa, and Sarba, in the Iqlim Al-Tuffah region on Tuesday afternoon.

A resident in the targeted area told Arab News that the intensity of artillery fire was unspeakable: “The buildings and the floor shook. Everyone was terrified.”

A security source stated that “although Israel violated the rules of engagement, it is still excluding civilians in general.

The Israeli army claims that the houses it is bombing are of Hezbollah cadres or have armed militants. Nonetheless, the destruction is huge, and the economy is paralyzed all along the border region.”

Israeli aircraft launched two missiles on the targeted area. A massive explosion rocked Nabatieh and Iqlim Al-Tuffah and clouds of smoke coated the area.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army were witnessed across all southern border fronts. Israel launched artillery shells targeting Hamams Hill, the outskirts of Chihine, Marwahin, Tayr Harfa, Ramyah, Jabal Blat, and the southern outskirts of Mays El Jabal.

An Israeli drone fired two missiles at a shipping container located on an agricultural land in Al-Wazzani.

Israeli warplanes raided Jumayjimah — a village located between Tyre and Bint Jbeil — for the first time since the beginning of the attacks.

UNIFIL, the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, remained in position while the administrative staff were still working from home.

Alarm sirens sounded multiple times at the UNIFIL centers during the Israeli bombardment of the area, indicating that the Israeli army expanded the geographical scope of its assaults beyond the southern Litani River, targeting southern villages that had not experienced attacks since the beginning of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced that it had “attacked the Meron Air Control Base in Jabal Al-Jarmaq for the second time in response to the recent assassinations in Lebanon and Syria and the repeated attacks on civilians and homes in our steadfast villages with a large number of suitable missiles, achieving direct hits.”

The Israeli army spokesman confirmed the attack, saying that “damage was caused to the infrastructure of Meron Air Control Base after being hit by missiles launched from Lebanon.”

Hezbollah also announced that it had targeted “a gathering of enemy soldiers on Cobra Hill with missile weapons, achieving direct hits.”

Israeli media reported that sirens sounded in several areas in the Upper Galilee. The launch of missiles caused a power outage in many settlements in the region.

Israeli aircraft raided Blida on Monday night targeting three houses. The massive destruction in the town was revealed on Tuesday morning.

After Israel threatened to launch a war against Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Health resumed emergency preparedness activities in government hospitals in the south and in Beirut, simulating crisis situations in the event of any possible attack against Lebanon.

Rafic Hariri University Hospital, located on the outskirts of Beirut’s southern suburb, hosted a training maneuver for the hospital staff. Competent authorities participated in the training, including the Lebanese Red Cross, the Emergency and Medical Services, the army command, the Internal Security Forces, and the municipality of Ghobeiry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.


UN, aid groups warn Gaza operations at risk from Israel impediments

Updated 18 December 2025
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UN, aid groups warn Gaza operations at risk from Israel impediments

  • Dozens of international aid groups face de-registration by December 31, which then means they have to close operations within 60 days

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations and aid groups warned on Wednesday that humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, were at risk of collapse if Israel does not lift impediments that include a “vague, arbitrary, and highly politicized” registration process.
Dozens of international aid groups face de-registration by December 31, which then means they have to close operations within 60 days, said the UN and more than 200 local and international aid groups in a joint statement.
“The deregistration of INGOs (international aid groups) in Gaza will have a catastrophic impact on access to essential and basic services,” the statement read.
“INGOs run or support the majority of field hospitals, primary health care centers, emergency shelter responses, water and sanitation services, nutrition stabilization centers for children with acute malnutrition, and critical mine action activities,” it said.

SUPPLIES LEFT OUT OF REACH: GROUPS
While some international aid groups have been registered under the system that was introduced in March, “the ongoing re-registration process and other arbitrary hindrances to humanitarian operations have left millions of dollars’ worth of essential supplies — including food, medical items, hygiene materials, and shelter assistance — stuck outside of Gaza and unable to reach people in need,” the statement read.
Israel’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement. Under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, a fragile ceasefire in the two-year-old war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas began on October 10. Hamas released hostages, Israel freed detained Palestinians and more aid began flowing into the enclave where a global hunger monitor said in August famine had taken hold.
However, Hamas says fewer aid trucks are entering Gaza than was agreed. Aid agencies say there is far less aid than required, and that Israel is blocking many necessary items from coming in. Israel denies that and says it is abiding by its obligations under the truce.
“The UN will not be able to compensate for the collapse of INGOs’ operations if they are de-registered, and the humanitarian response cannot be replaced by alternative actors operating outside established humanitarian principles,” the statement by the UN and aid groups said.
The statement stressed “humanitarian access is not optional, conditional or political,” adding: “Lifesaving assistance must be allowed to reach Palestinians without further delay.”