Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has directed the national army to actively counter any Israeli incursions into the southern liberated areas, marking a significant shift in response since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. This directive follows an incident where Israeli forces raided a municipality building in the town of Blida, resulting in the death of a public officer.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Lebanese President condemned the Israeli attack, labeling it as part of an ongoing pattern of aggression. During a meeting at Baabda Palace with Army Commander General Rudolph Haykal, Aoun emphasized that such attacks undermine the ceasefire oversight committee's efforts, urging them to take decisive action against Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty.
The Israeli military has justified its actions by claiming the Blida municipality building had been utilized for Hezbollah activities under the guise of civilian infrastructure. In response, Hezbollah denounced the Israeli raid and praised President Aoun's decision, pledging support to the army to bolster its defensive capabilities. The group also urged the government to adopt a more assertive political and diplomatic strategy to halt the attacks and safeguard Lebanese citizens.
The UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, expressed significant concerns regarding the Israeli raid, stating it was a clear breach of Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon's sovereignty. They reiterated the need for all parties to adhere to the cessation of hostilities, emphasizing the importance of extending state authority as outlined in the Resolution.
In August, the Lebanese government had approved a plan to centralize all weapons under state control, a move rejected by Hezbollah, which insists on retaining its arms until Israel withdraws from the five occupied border outposts. The conflict, which escalated into a full-scale offensive in September 2024, has resulted in over 4,000 Lebanese casualties and nearly 17,000 injuries since its onset in October 2023. Despite the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army has only partially withdrawn, maintaining a presence at the contested border sites.