Israel unleashes strikes on southern Lebanon, Bekaa; blows up school in Aita al-Shaab

The Israeli army once again unleashed a barrage of strikes on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa on Thursday, carrying out several rounds of powerful airstrikes, targeting and killing a Hezbollah fighter in a drone strike near Sour and blowing up a school building in Aita al-Shaab.

Early in the afternoon, the Israeli air force first carried out strikes in the Anti-Lebanon region, particularly around the towns of Janta and Shaara, as well as near Yahfufa (Baalbeck-Hermel), according to our correspondent in the region. A strike also targeted the Qousayya Jurd (Zahle district). These towns are located near the Syrian border, in the Anti-Lebanon region, in the east of the country.

Shortly after, southern Lebanon, particularly Ansar and the Zrarieh Valley, was targeted by airstrikes. The targeted areas are located north of the Litani River, our local correspondent recalls. According to accounts from local residents gathered by our correspondent, at least five missiles with "high-explosive" charges were used in the latest Israeli strikes on Ansar, in southern Lebanon. The detonations were heard for miles around. The bombed area has already been hit several times since the cease-fire, residents told L'Orient-Le Jour.

'Hezbollah weapons production and storage infrastructure'

Following the strikes on the Bekaa and the Ansar region, the Israeli army announced that it had struck "terrorist infrastructure at a site used for the production and storage of strategic weapons belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the Bekaa region of Lebanon," as well as "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the Zrarieh region" in southern Lebanon.

Early this morning, a man was killed in the Sour district in an Israeli drone strike on the road between Ain Baal and Aitit, according to information from our correspondent and the Health Ministry. The missile completely destroyed the targeted motorcycle and seriously injured its driver, identified as Wassim Jibai, who later succumbed to his injuries. Hezbollah announced Jibai's death, and his funeral will be held later in the day in Hanaway.

School for children with disabilities blown up

In addition, an Israeli army unit infiltrated Lebanese territory at dawn, near Aita al-Shaab, in the Bint Jbeil district, and blew up a building belonging to a school for children with disabilities. This explosion completely destroyed the building.

Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Hanine al-Sayed condemned this dynamiting in a message on X. "This criminal act adds to the series of crimes committed by the enemy, which makes no distinction and even attacks the rights of persons with disabilities, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and all conventions that protect the most vulnerable groups," she wrote.

These Israeli attacks are taking place despite the fragile cease-fire, in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, after 13 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli army says it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and members, which, since the beginning of the truce, has fired only one shot at Israeli territory, on Dec. 1, 2024. In addition to these strikes, the Israeli army continues to occupy several positions in southern Lebanon, on hills overlooking the border area.