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BEIRUT, November 4, 2024 – Israel’s military conducted airstrikes Monday targeting areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, asserting the locations house infrastructure linked to Hezbollah and Hamas. It’s a familiar pattern, and one that’s ratcheting up tensions as Lebanon prepares for a critical discussion about disarming the powerful militant group.
Lebanon Braces for Hezbollah Disarmament Debate amidst Israeli Strikes
Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon coincide with upcoming government deliberations on disarming Hezbollah,raising concerns about escalating conflict.
- Israeli airstrikes hit areas in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday.
- The strikes targeted infrastructure allegedly used by Hezbollah and Hamas.
- Lebanon’s government is scheduled to discuss Hezbollah’s disarmament on Thursday.
- The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah concluded with a ceasefire in November 2024, but Israeli strikes continue.
An Israeli military spokesperson,issued warnings on X regarding impending strikes against Hezbollah and Hamas targets in two villages in the eastern Bekaa Valley and two in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that a home struck in the village of Manara, in the Bekaa Valley, belonged to Sharhabil al-Sayed, a Hamas military commander who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in May 2024.
The Lebanese army initiated a process to disarm Palestinian groups last year. The government has stated its intention to clear all areas near the border with Israel-known as the south Litani area-of Hezbollah’s armed presence by the end of 2025.
Lebanon’s government is scheduled to discuss Hezbollah’s disarmament during a meeting Thursday, which will include army commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal.
Monday’s airstrikes targeted villages north of the Litani River and were conducted far from the Israeli border.
The current push for disarmament follows a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, during which a critically important portion of the Iran-backed group’s political and military leadership was eliminated.
The most recent Israel-Hezbollah war began on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel. Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, prompting a widespread Israeli bombardment of Lebanon in september 2024 that considerably weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.
The conflict concluded in November 2024 with a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Since the ceasefire,Israel has conducted near-daily airstrikes,primarily targeting Hezbollah members.However, these strikes have also resulted in the deaths of 127 civilians, according to the office of the U.N. high Commissioner for Human rights.
Earlier Monday, a drone strike on a car in the southern village of braikeh wounded two people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military stated the strike targeted two Hezbollah members.
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