Israel continues destruction operations in Mansouri, Sour; kills teacher by gunfire in Braasheet
Beirut and Paris have relaunched an initiative to extend UNIFIL’s mandate, set to expire at the end of 2026, as Israel reiterates its intention to maintain its occupation.
by L'Orient Today staff · L'Orient TodaySOUTH LEBANON — Israel killed at least one person in southern Lebanon on Monday, in another day marked by airstrikes, demolitions, fires, and deadly gunfire sweeps.
During an intense artillery fire operation on the village of Braasheet (Bint Jbeil), situated on the outskirts of the so-called "Yellow Line" which marks the Israeli-occupied area in southern Lebanon, occupying forces severely injured a teacher identified as Adib Ibrahim Obeid. Obeid was taken to hospital but succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
Braasheet municipality issued a statement condemning the fatal shooting by Israeli soldiers on the village. It denounced “yet another attack, adding to the series of Israeli aggressions against our residents and our villages in the South,” as well as a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law.
The municipality also called on Lebanese authorities, the U.N., and the international community to “assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities, intervene immediately and effectively to protect civilians and residents of border towns, put an end to the repeated Israeli attacks and hold those responsible to account.”
It added that “the blood of our residents is not just another news item” and that “the silence in the face of these crimes cannot continue.”
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone fired a missile at the village of Jarmaq (Jezzine), whilst two further Israeli strikes targeted the village of Qantara, as well as an area between Adsheet al-Qousseir and Taybeh (Marjayoun).
According to the latest official tally from the Health Ministry, Israel has killed at least 4,383 people and injured 12,406 others in Lebanon since March 2. Despite the latest "cease-fire" announced on June 29 in Lebanon, Israel has not ceased its hostilities against southern Lebanon, continuing its daily attacks and occupation of more than 600 square kilometers of Lebanese territory.
Continued demolitions in several areas
Systematically razed by Israel for weeks, Mansouri — a coastal locality split in two by the "Yellow Line" — was once again subjected to heavy explosions and repeatedly targeted by Israeli army artillery fire and strikes. Three Israeli airstrikes specifically targeted the village in the early evening, while two other strikes targeted Kfar Tibnit and an area between the localities of Bani Hayan and Qantara, near Wadi Slouqi, another border of the occupied zone.
Other Israeli demolitions were reported in the occupied area, notably in Bint Jbeil, Majdal Zoun (Sour), Qantara, and in an area between Adsheet al-Qousseir and Taybeh (Marjayoun), while homes were set on fire in Tiri (Bint Jbeil). Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in Bint Jbeil and an bulldozing operation on land in Mansouri (Sour).
Israeli artillery also targeted the localities of Nabatieh Fawqa, Kfar Tibnit, and Arnoun (Nabatieh), Wadi Houjeir, Touline, and Qantara (Marjayoun), Haddatha, Beit Yahoun, Srebbine, Haris (Bint Jbeil), as well as Majdal Zoun and Wadi Zibqine (Sour). Israeli artillery fire also caused a fire in the Seddaneh area, near Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya district), before a second explosion was triggered by the Israeli army in the same sector, further fueling the flames.
At dawn, a rare artillery strike also hit Hebbarieh, a Sunni village still inhabited in Hasbaya district, which was also targeted by automatic weapon fire. In addition, Israeli forces opened fire toward young men near the Shaqra dump (Bint Jbeil), causing no injuries but damaging a municipal vehicle. Several demolitions of homes or buildings were also reported in Bint Jbeil, Qantara and Majdal Zoun, all within the occupied zone, while houses were set on fire in Tiri (Bint Jbeil). Finally, Israeli military vehicles were spotted maneuvering near Wadi Slouqi, between the villages of Shaqra and Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun).
The road linking the village of Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr, north of the Litani River, to Froun, south of the river, was reopened to traffic on Monday following the completion of resurfacing works, allowing traffic to return to normal after the disruption caused by Israeli strikes which destroyed this bridge linking the districts of Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon.
Paris and Beirut push to maintain UNIFIL
It is within this context that Lebanon and France continue to work towards maintaining UNIFIL in southern Lebanon beyond the expiration of its mandate, scheduled for Dec. 31, 2026, according to an article published Sunday by the Financial Times (FT).
Three people familiar with the matter told the FT that France, as well as most other members of the U.N. Security Council, had expressed support for Lebanon’s request during council discussions. A session dedicated to the fate of UNIFIL was held in early September at France’s request. France is the Security Council’s penholder on Lebanon. But the possibility of extending the mandate was categorically rejected by the United States. Israel also continues to oppose it.
President Joseph Aoun is calling for an extension of UNIFIL's presence due to ongoing Israeli attacks in the South. If an extension is not possible, the deployment of an alternative international force could be considered.
Washington is sponsoring the framework agreement signed last June 26 between Beirut and Tel Aviv, which provides for the deployment of an international force to oversee the various provisions of the text, namely the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South with the mission to disarm Hezbollah, and the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied area. However, direct negotiations are stalling over which countries could form this force.
Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar and the director-general of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), Raed Abdallah, traveled to Pakistan on Monday to meet the Pakistani army chief, Qassem Munir. The discussions focused in particular on Pakistan’s participation in the preparatory conference to support the Lebanese armed forces, which is set to take place this week in Paris. The Pakistani army chief reaffirmed "his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Lebanon," expressing his desire to "develop cooperation in areas of common interest."
Commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army Rodolph Haykal had already traveled to Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart in June.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz once again repeated that Israel had no intention of withdrawing from the occupied southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah has not been disarmed throughout the entire country. "We will not move from the security zone, and the Israeli army will not withdraw or redeploy as long as Hezbollah has not been disarmed throughout Lebanon," he said, as quoted by the Israeli press.
He also claimed in these same statements that the area of Lebanese territory occupied in the south now extends to "700 square kilometers," following the takeover of Ali Taher, the northernmost point of the "buffer zone." "After the elimination of fighters and the destruction of Hezbollah tunnels on Ali Taher, the Israeli army is operationally preparing to control the ridge and prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to reestablish itself there. Anyone who approaches will be eliminated," he asserted.
Reporting contributed by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Muntasser Abdallah.
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