A leaflet dropped by the Israeli army to the former makhtar of Yaroun on June 4, 2025. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient-Le Jour)
A fisherman identified as Ali Fneich was kidnapped by the Israeli army off the coast of Ras Naqoura, at Lebanon’s southernmost tip, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent. Four Israeli military boats reportedly crossed the buoy line that demarcates the maritime border and abducted Fneich, originally from Maaroub (Sour district), while he was on a fishing boat.
Separately, Israeli machine-gun fire targeted shepherds near Wazzani, in the Marjayoun district, apparently to force them away from the area.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli army dropped leaflets addressed to Mohammad Abbas Chahine, a former mokhtar (village head) of Yaroun, warning him that he was being watched “from the air and on the ground.” Local sources confirmed the leaflet drop to L'Orient Today's correspondent in South Lebanon. Chahine could not immediately be reached for comment.
The leaflets, dropped over the village in the Bint Jbeil district, read: “To the mokhtar who sold the town — we will make an example of you. You are being watched from the air and on the ground. Everyone is watching and listening.” A photo on the leaflet shows a man on the phone gesturing toward an object above his head, apparently a drone.
Israeli surveillance drones have flown over South Lebanon and other areas of the country for months. The leaflet also said: “Be honest about your links to the yellow Wa Taawoun association [a reference to Hezbollah] — for your own good and that of the honorable people of Yaroun.”
New UNIFIL commander appointed
In this context, Lebanon’s grand mufti, Abdel-Latif Deriane, delivered a message from Mecca on Wednesday marking Eid al-Adha, celebrated from the evening of June 5 to June 9 this year.
“Just as the Palestinians seek to free themselves from occupation, so too does Lebanon, especially its South. Israeli aggression is no longer tolerable in any form or at any price,” he said. “The international community must urgently condemn this war of aggression and work toward a cease-fire.”
Also Wednesday, the United Nations announced that Italian Maj. Gen. Diodato Abagnara will be the new head of mission and force commander for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Abagnara to succeed Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz of Spain, who is stepping down after leading the mission through a particularly tense period. Guterres thanked him for his dedication and leadership.
Abagnara, who has more than 36 years of service in the Italian armed forces, is familiar with UNIFIL’s mandate. He commanded the mission’s western sector from 2018 to 2019 and most recently chaired the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), tasked with coordinating with the Lebanese Army.
His appointment comes as UNIFIL continues efforts to maintain stability in South Lebanon. The cease-fire brokered on Nov. 27, 2024, following more than a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah, remains fragile. The Israeli military continues to carry out near-daily strikes in Lebanon and maintains a presence at five “strategic” points it refuses to vacate.
Last Thursday, Gen. Lázaro warned that “the situation along the Blue Line remains tense and unpredictable, with repeated violations and risks of escalation with unforeseeable consequences.”
Meanwhile, President Joseph Aoun met on Wednesday in Baabda Presidential Palace with Ramez Dimashkieh, head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee. Dimashkieh briefed him on ongoing talks with Palestinian factions regarding the mechanism for implementing Lebanon’s decision to collect weapons inside Palestinian camps. The policy is part of the state’s efforts to reclaim its monopoly on armed force.
The decision was agreed upon between President Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a May 21 meeting in Baabda, according to the presidency.
Security sweep in Baalbeck
On the security front, Lebanese law enforcement and traffic police carried out a large-scale operation Wednesday in the city of Baalbeck. Mobile checkpoints were set up, and fines were issued to violators, including motorcyclists and illegal “tuk-tuk” drivers, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa.
As part of the operation, the Lebanese Army raided the Sharawneh neighborhood in an attempt to arrest Ahmad Jaafar, also known as Ahmad Assia, who is wanted by the judiciary. Jaafar fled but was later located at a gas station owned by his father. He was reportedly injured by army gunfire but managed to escape again.
Three local sources told our correspondent that some soldiers and gas station employees may have been injured during the incident. The army did not respond to requests for comment.
