Israeli strike on the area known as Shaara, in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range bordering Lebanon and Syria, on May 5, 2025. (Photo provided by Sarah Abdallah)
Israeli aircraft carried out three strikes Monday evening on the Lebanese-Syrian border, according to L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in the Bekaa. The first targeted the area around Janta on the Syrian side of the border, and the second targeted the area known as Shaara, in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range bordering Lebanon and Syria. Two more strikes later targeted Janta for a third and fourth time. A strike then targeted an isolated mountainous area between Serghaya and Flita, in the Qalamoun region.
Earlier, L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent reported that Israeli drones were flying at low altitude over the West Bekaa, Rashaya, Janta and Eastern Mountains regions.
Israel also carried out two strikes on Tyr Harfa (Sour). Three prefabricated buildings were reportedly targeted.
Earlier in the afternoon, three airstrikes conducted by an Israeli drone targeted an open area on the outskirts of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon.
Using several missiles, according to information from L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent. This is the first reported incident since the start of the day in the south of the country, as Israeli strikes and fire continue in this region despite the implementation of a cease-fire agreement reached on Nov. 27, 2024.
No information was immediately available on the target of these attacks or any potential casualties.
The continuation of Israeli attacks in Lebanon despite the truce has resulted in more than 150 deaths, according to our count, and these strikes are regularly condemned by Beirut, which calls on the international community, particularly France and the U.S., sponsors of the cease-fire agreement, to pressure Israel to put an end to them.
It is in this context that Foreign Minister Joe Rajji met the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. The two officials discussed the "ongoing efforts to urge Israel to honor its commitments under the agreement and fully withdraw from Lebanese territory." According to a brief statement from the foreign ministry, Rajji and Plasschaert also discussed the "ongoing cooperation" with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and "the importance of enabling it to fulfill its mandate ahead of its renewal in August."
Several incidents have occurred in the past two weeks in which residents of the south have prevented the U.N. force, which operates only south of the Litani River, from crossing villages, on the grounds that patrols were not accompanied by the Lebanese Army — a matter that had been controversial ahead of the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate in August 2024. Deputy spokesperson for UNIFIL Kandice Ardiel reported "over 200 operational activities per day," among which hostile reactions were "rare."