Beirut: The Israeli army executed airstrikes on six heavy machinery yards along the Al-Msayleh road in southern Lebanon, leading to the destruction of more than 300 vehicles. This action resulted in significant damage, as reported by local media.
According to Anadolu Agency, the state news agency NNA cited a Health Ministry statement revealing that a Syrian national was killed, while another Syrian and six Lebanese citizens, including two women, sustained injuries during the attack. The airstrikes obliterated more than 300 vehicles, such as bulldozers and excavators, causing an estimated financial loss amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
The devastation extended to the destruction of facilities, including buildings and tents, as well as several cars parked in the vicinity. NNA described the exhibition sites that were completely destroyed as among the largest and most prominent heavy machinery exhibition sites in Lebanon. The attacks left the area engulfed in flames, leading to the closure of the Al-Msayleh road due to significant damage.
The Israeli army stated that the strikes targeted and demolished Hezbollah's infrastructure in the region, where engineering equipment was allegedly employed to reconstruct the group's infrastructure nearby. In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli assault as a blatant act of aggression, emphasizing the seriousness of the attack following the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Aoun warned of a possible Israeli attempt to shift the conflict to Lebanon.
Additionally, Israeli drones were reportedly flying over Lebanon's capital, Beirut, and the southern suburbs from early Saturday, according to NNA. The news agency noted an incident where an Israeli drone targeted a car near a school in the Al-Tabbaleh neighborhood of Qalaouiyeh town, resulting in one fatality.
A ceasefire was established in November 2024 after a year-long cycle of cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that began in October 2023. The conflict escalated into a comprehensive Israeli offensive by September 2024, causing over 4,000 deaths and approximately 17,000 injuries. As per the truce terms, Israel was required to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January. However, it has only partially retracted its forces and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.