The destruction of a building in the village of Khiam in South Lebanon, on Dec. 14, 2024, after Israel withdrew from the region, while the Lebanese army deployed there. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Two Israeli drone strikes on Monday targeted the southern Lebanese villages of Najjarieh and Tebna, in the Saida district, around 45 kilometers from the Israeli border, reported L'Orient Today's regional correspondent. Three people were injured in the Najjarieh drone strike, which reportedly targeted an empty house.
The Israeli army has not claimed the attack yet but have conducted such attacks regularly since the cease-fire in Lebanon came into effect on Nov. 27.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military has reiterated its warning to residents of southern Lebanon, prohibiting travel to the border area until further notice, while continuing to blow up and demolish buildings in some of the villages designated as a 'forbidden zone.'
In a message posted on social media platform X, Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, issued a routine warning to residents of the region prohibiting them to return to their villages. "You are forbidden from traveling south to the line of villages and surrounding areas," Adraee wrote. "The Israeli army have no intention of targeting you, and you are therefore forbidden at this stage to return home from this line to the south until further notice. Anyone moving south of this line does so at their own risk," he added.
The list of forbidden villages published by the Israeli army includes the village of Khiam in the Marjayoun district, from which the Israeli army withdrew last week, replaced by the Lebanese Army and U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The following is a list of villages to which access is forbidden: Dhaira, Taibeh, al-Tire, Naqoura, Abou Shash, Ebel al-Saqi, Bayada, Jibbein, Khreibeh, Khiam, Kherbeh, Matmoura, al-Mari, Odaisseh, Qlayaa, Oum al-Tout, Salib, Arnoun, Bint Jbeil, Beit Lif, Blida, Bani Hayan, al-Boustan, Ain Arab Marjayoun, Dibbin, Debel, Deir Mimas, Deir Sirian, Houla, Halta, Hanine, Tayr Harfa, Yohmor, Yaroun, Yarine, Kfar Hamam, Kfar Kila, Kfar Shuba, Zaloutiyeh, Mhaibib, Mais al-Jabal, Maysat, Marjayoun, Marouahine, Maroun al-Ras, Markaba, Adasheet al-Qousayr, Ain Ebel, Ainata, Aita al-Shaab, Aitaroun, Alma al-Shaab, Arab Louaizeh, Qaouzah, Robb Thalatine, Ramiyeh, Rmeish, Rashaya al-Foukhar, Shebaa, Shihine, Shamaa, Talloussa.
This comes as the Israeli army continued to destroy homes and buildings in the Sour district using explosives on Sunday night, according to our regional correspondent. Last night, destruction operations took place in the villages of Shihine, Naqoura, and Jibbein. Simultaneously, heavy Israeli artillery bombarded the outskirts of Bint Jbeil, while drones flew over the western sector at low altitude.
The cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect on Nov. 27, ending nearly 13 months of fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. However, while Israel has withdrawn from certain villages in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army continues its military operations. Since the cease-fire began, Israeli drone strikes and bombardments in southern Lebanon killed at least 34 people, according to our count. The government officials have repeatedly condemned Israeli "violations" of the cease-fire agreement.