Israel bulldozes, destroys homes in Mansouri, continues its military operations across southern Lebanon
by L'Orient Today staff · L'Orient TodaySOUTH LEBANON — Israeli forces carried out multiple attacks in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, demolishing homes, shelling several towns, and carrying out other military operations, all the while negotiations between Lebanon and Israel remain stalled.
Israel targeted Mansouri (Sour) twice with airstrikes and demolished homes with a bulldozer in the town's al-Rabeh neighborhood, our regional correspondent reported. Israel also targeted Houla and Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun) with artillery fire and the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil) with machine-gun fire.
Israeli military vehicles were seen moving in Haddatha (Bint Jbeil), where an Israeli drone fired a stun grenade. Explosions, likely from large-scale demolitions, were also reported in Rshaf (Bint Jbeil) as well as in several neighborhoods of Houla and on the outskirts of Taybeh (Marjayoun).
In the evening, a major explosion was heard in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh), whilst another blast occurred in the Alman al-Shoumarieh area, between Deir Siryan and Qousseir (Marjayoun). Artillery fire once again targeted Mansouri and Srebbine (Bint Jbeil), whilst a drone strike targeted Nabatieh Fawqa.
Large-scale demolitions during the night
Overnight, the Israeli army continued large-scale demolition operations in several areas of southern Lebanon, notably in Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh), Srebbine (Bint Jbeil), Mansouri (Sour), Taybeh, and the Jableh neighborhood of Khiam (Marjayoun).
At 3 a.m., a very loud explosion was heard in the area between Deir Siryan and Qantara (Marjayoun). The blast was heard as far away as several towns in the districts of Sour, Nabatieh and Marjayoun.
Israeli phosphorus artillery shelling also struck Nabatieh Fawqa, and an artillery shell landed in the Jouwar neighborhood of Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil). At midnight, Srebbine was targeted by artillery fire.
This intensification of operations comes as negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are at a standstill, raising fears of a further deterioration of the situation on the ground. According to several consistent sources, Israel is preparing for a major offensive against the strategic hills of Ali Taher, where Hezbollah fighters are believed to be trapped.
The intensification of Israeli operations comes as negotiations between Lebanon and Israel remain at a standstill, raising fears of a further deterioration in the situation on the ground. According to several consistent sources, Israel is preparing for a major offensive against the strategic hills of Ali Taher (Nabatieh), which reportedly houses Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.
Washington insists on ‘pilot zones’
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated on Monday, in an interview with Sky News Arabia, that the establishment of "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon was "the only way to achieve lasting peace and security in Lebanon and Israel." He emphasized that the disarmament of Hezbollah was “an essential component” of this process. He also stressed that the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon “will continue its efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the first pilot zones” and that “the United States fully supports Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The framework agreement concluded on June 26 between Lebanon and Israel provides, amongst other things, for the establishment of "pilot zones" for the deployment of the Lebanese Army, which is tasked with recovering Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure in these areas. In practice, only one of the two zones planned since that date — in Zawtar Gharbieh, where the Israelis had been making occasional incursions — has seen troops establish positions there.
Reporting contributed by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Muntasser Abdallah.
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