Damage caused by a missile that fell on two houses in Akkar on Monday night. (Credit: Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — A missile fell on two houses in the Nabaa neighborhood in the village of Fneideq, Akkar, on Monday night during an Israeli attack on trucks in the district of Hermel at the Lebanese-Syrian border.
It is still not clear whether the missile was dropped by the Israeli jets that struck Hermel or whether it was a Syrian interceptor missile fired from the Syrian side of the border towards the Israeli planes. There is conflicting data on this matter, pending the report of the military expert in the Lebanese army to determine the identity of the missile. Contacted by L'Orient Today, military expert General Khalil Helou could not confirm whether it was an Israeli or Syrian missile. Helou said that it could be a surface-to-surface Israeli missile that missed its target.
At least five people were killed before midnight on Monday, including three Hezbollah members, in the Hermel strikes, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa.
The missile that fell in Akkar left four minor injuries, including three children and a young man, and caused major material damage, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North. The children's wounds were treated on the spot while the young man was transferred to al-Habtoor Hospital where his wound was treated.
The missile fell on an old house and another one under construction and caused damage to 12 other neighboring houses.
Arriving at the site, the Mufti of Akkar inspected the damage wrought by the missile strike. “Criminality is no stager to the enemy,” he denounced as relayed by our correspondent.
He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "The incursion of aggression into Lebanon's heartland poses a significant threat. Politicians must set aside differences and prioritize national unity by promptly electing a President." He continued, "Israel is exploiting the leadership vacuum to sow political and security discord.”
Finally, he lamented the detrimental impact of the attack on Akkar's tourism, particularly at the beginning of the summer season and implored the government to ensure adequate compensation for all affected households.
Dozens of people from the village were alarmed by the sound of the explosion and immediately headed to the site of the incident. A patrol from the Lebanese Army Intelligence was also present there.
In a field tour this morning, the large scale of the material damage caused by the missile was clear; including glass shattering, cracks on the walls and damaged cars parked near the houses.
One of the people whose house was hit by the missile told L'Orient Today that only the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces can determine whether it was an Israeli or Syrian missile.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Fneideq, Samih Abdul Hay, said that two Israeli planes crossed on Monday at midnight over the village of Fneideq to carry out attacks on the Hermel region and that simultaneously a missile fell and exploded in the Nabaa neighborhood.
Abdul Hay also called on the Higher Relief Authority and state stakeholders to inspect the damage and quickly compensate the affected families.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in daily skirmishes since October following the beginning of the Gaza war. Since the start of the war, 24 people have been killed on the Israeli side of the border, according to the Israeli military, while over 450 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of whom were members of Hezbollah.
Map showing the locations of Fneideq and Hermel. (Credit: Jaimee Haddad)
