Lebanese soldiers near a damaged building in the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, Dec. 23, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
More than a month into the supposed cease-fire agreement meant to end the war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli army continues to operate in the country, destroying homes and buildings in southern villages on a daily basis, claiming to be dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.
An Israeli army unit entered the southern Lebanese villages of Kantara and Taybeh, both in the Marjayoun district, and set fire to houses there. Residents of the town fled to Gandourieh, in Bint Jbeil district. Gunshots were heard in several neighborhoods in Taybeh, Kantara, Adsheet al-Qousseir and Deir Seriane.
Later in the day, Israeli soldiers ransacked and looted the fishing port of Naqoura, in Sour district, according to reports from the National News Agency (NNA). Fishermen had gone to the port earlier to retrieve their boats and equipment. The fishermen coordinated with the international peacekeepers, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and the journey to the port was done with respect for parameters set out by the Israeli army. And yet, when they reached the port, Israeli soldiers began firing at them, forcing them to flee, NNA reported.
Cited by Haaretz, the Israeli army announced that soldiers from the 300th brigade operating in Lebanon had destroyed an underground tunnel it claimed belonged to Hezbollah. According to the statement, the tunnel was 100 meters long and led to a Hezbollah command post and launching pad for firing missiles.
The army said it had seized a large stash of weapons inside the tunnel, including rifles, machine guns, anti-tank missiles and surveillance systems.
A new meeting of the monitoring committee is due to be held in the first week of January, in the presence of American special envoy and architect of the cease-fire agreement, Amos Hochstein.
Reporting contributed by our correspondent in the South, Muntasser Abdallah.
