Lebanese Army soldiers and UN peacekeepers stand along the barbed wire fence marking the border between Lebanon (foreground) and Israel (background), while an excavator from the local municipality of Kafr Shuba clears earth to reopen the road. (Credit: Ali Dia / AFP)
BEIRUT — Israeli military vehicles and soldiers have moved from the town of Hula (Marjayoun district) to Wadi Sluki, conducting a broad search operation with heavy and medium machine guns, according to L'Orient Today’s correspondent in the south, reporting on Saturday. Israeli military vehicles were also observed in the Dabsha neighborhood on the outskirts of Bint Jbeil, our correspondent added.
Meanwhile, an Israeli bulldozer is carrying out excavation work in the vicinity of the "Bab al-Thaniya" area, east of the Marjayoun plain, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The Red Cross team and the Lebanese Army are awaiting the outcome of communications with UNIFIL forces before proceeding to search for three individuals targeted by an Israeli drone strike several days ago in Mount Sadaneh. This marks the second attempt, following an unsuccessful effort to locate them previously.
Local residents from Bint Jbeil told L'Orient Today that Israeli forces regularly infiltrate the neighborhoods of Bint Jbeil from the nearby town of Maroun al-Ras. Two days ago, an Israeli force infiltrated the area and blew up the entrances of three homes, stealing their contents, according to local reports.
Since yesterday and continuing today, Israeli forces have been infiltrating and searching homes in peripheral neighborhoods close to Maroun al-Ras, according to residents.
During a speech on Saturday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said: "Our patience with [Israeli] violations aimed to give an opportunity to the Lebanese state, which is responsible for this agreement, and to international leaders. But I say to them: do not test our patience." A cease-fire was brokered on Nov. 27, between Hezbollah and Israel, and is set to expire on Jan. 26, though Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have reported repeated violations of the agreement.
Reporting contributed by Muntasser Abdallah
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