Despite cease-fire, Israel continues strikes and destruction in south Lebanon
To facilitate the return of displaced people, the National Litani Office, in collaboration with the Lebanese Army, is building a bridge over the river in the Tayr Filsay area (Sour).
· L'Orient TodayDespite the cease-fire taking effect two days ago, the Israeli army continued its operations in south Lebanon overnight from Friday to Saturday, according to our correspondent in the region.
On Saturday morning, artillery fire struck the outskirts of Kounine, a village just north of the city of Bint Jbeil, where the Israeli army has waged fierce battles against Hezbollah. Bursts of Israeli machine-gun fire also targeted the locality of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil district). Explosions caused by Israeli forces were heard in several border towns, including Taybeh, Qantara and Khiam. An altercation broke out between residents of Ghandourieh and members of UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, according to our correspondent, who reported two peacekeepers wounded. Contacted by our publication, UNIFIL said it was investigating the incident.
On Friday evening, Israeli artillery shelled Houla, in the Marjayoun district. Houla, which has been largely destroyed by Israeli forces since 2024, is located just a few hundred meters from the border, within the area Israel seeks to turn into a “buffer zone.” After midnight, the Israeli army repeatedly demolished residential neighborhoods in Khiam, as well as in Qantara (Marjayoun), Shamaa and Naqoura (Sour), and in the city of Bint Jbeil.
Powerful explosions were heard across the regions of Sour, Nabatieh, Hasbaya, Iqlim al-Kharroub, Jezzine and Saida. Witnesses told our correspondent that “the ground was shaking, as in an earthquake.” The explosions were clearly audible as far as the Chouf region. According to these witnesses, “it seems that an unprecedented destructive force is being directed against the residential neighborhoods” of these villages, which have been taken by Israel in recent weeks.
In this context, Israeli army officials cited by CNN said that Israel will impose a “yellow line” on Lebanon, similar to the one used in Gaza. Residents will not be allowed to return to the 55 Lebanese villages located within the zone, they added. According to them, “the Israeli army is authorized to continue destroying terrorist infrastructure there, even during the ceasefire.”
On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army “will continue to hold all the places it has cleared and captured.”
Temporary bridge under construction over the Litani
To facilitate the return of displaced people, the National Litani Office, in collaboration with the Lebanese Army’s engineering department, has begun construction of a temporary bridge over the river in the Tayr Felsay area (Sour) to “ensure a vital link between the river’s north and south banks.”
“This initiative is part of a series of emergency measures adopted by official authorities to reconnect affected areas and ensure continuity of movement, in order to meet humanitarian and economic needs during this critical period,” it said. The Israeli army had bombed all bridges linking the south of the Litani to the north during its offensive in Lebanon.
South Lebanon Water Authority carries out repairs
Meanwhile, the South Lebanon Water Authority has deployed teams of engineers to inspect and assess damage to facilities, stations and wells, our correspondent reported. The Khartoum, Marouaniye and Kawtharia al-Sayad wells were inspected, and the compressor at the Nabeh al-Tasseh - Jarjouaa station was repaired.
The authority has also begun coordinating with Electricité du Liban (EDL), the state power provider, to address malfunctions related to electrical transformers and public utility lines.
Debris removal operations are also ongoing in a residential neighborhood of Sour, specifically in a 12-story building, where rescue teams, in cooperati »n with the municipality, recovered the body of one victim, while searches continue for eight missing people.
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