BEIRUT: Israel launched airstrikes on alleged weapons caches of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, and tunnels in southern Lebanon on Monday, soon after it had struck targets within Iran.
Israeli warplanes carried out the surprise strikes on the outskirts of several villages, and valleys and hills in the districts of Jezzine and Nabatieh, and all the way to the district of Sidon.
The Israeli military claimed that “air force warplanes raided Hezbollah military sites containing rocket launchers and missiles, as well as weapons depots in the area north of the Litani (River),” adding that “the presence of Hezbollah weapons and activities in this area constitute a flagrant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
According to a Lebanese security source, no casualties were reported in the raids that focused on the valley between Ansar and Al-Zarariyeh, the Kfar Melki valley, and the area between the towns of Azza, Kafrwa Zefta, and Deir Al-Zahrani, along with the outskirts of Al-Aishiyeh, Al-Mahmoudiya, Al-Dashmakiyeh, and Wadi Barghoz.
The source told Arab News: “These raids apparently targeted areas containing Hezbollah tunnels and previous gathering points, which had previously been targeted repeatedly.”
The source noted that “the Israeli army used concussion missiles in these new raids, the sound of which caused powerful explosions and ground shaking, and the echoes of the explosions reverberated throughout most of the southern regions.”
He added: “The reason for these raids now is (as) a warning message to Hezbollah not to consider any attempt to rehabilitate what has been completely destroyed.
“The Lebanese army has not yet entered these targeted areas north of the Litani River to confiscate their contents, as it is still confining its mission to searching for weapons and ammunition south of the Litani River.”
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and the country’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have held a series of meetings in light of regional developments to help prevent Lebanon suffering any repercussions from the escalating Israeli-Iranian conflict and to keep Lebanon neutral.
Aoun said on Sunday: “Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are aware today, more than ever, that it has paid a heavy price for the wars that have erupted on its soil and in the region. It is unwilling to pay more, and there is no national interest in doing so, especially since the cost of these wars has been and will be greater than it can bear.”
Salam has stressed the need to “prioritize the supreme national interest and maintain unity and national solidarity, which requires avoiding Lebanon’s involvement or being dragged in any way into the ongoing regional confrontation.”
