The Israeli military launched a major series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing one person, injuring seven, and destroying more than 300 heavy vehicles in an attack that threatens to unravel a fragile, year-old ceasefire.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, the strikes targeted six heavy machinery yards along the Al-Msayleh road. The attack obliterated what were described as some of the “largest and most prominent” machinery exhibition sites in the country, causing an estimated financial loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. The area was left engulfed in flames, and the main road was closed due to significant damage.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that a Syrian national was killed in the assault. Seven others were wounded, including another Syrian national and six Lebanese citizens, two of whom were women.
The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating its forces “struck and destroyed Hezbollah’s infrastructure.” An official statement alleged the targeted yards housed engineering equipment that the group was using to rebuild its military capabilities in the region.
The attack drew a swift and sharp condemnation from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who called it a “blatant act of aggression.”
“The seriousness of this assault lies in the fact that it comes after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” Aoun stated, warning of a possible Israeli attempt to “transfer the conflict towards Lebanon.”
Adding to the heightened tensions, Israeli drones were reportedly flying over the capital Beirut and its southern suburbs throughout Saturday morning.
The strikes mark the most significant military escalation since a ceasefire was brokered in November 2024, ending a brutal year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. That war, which began with cross-border attacks in October 2023, resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and around 17,000 injuries.
Under the terms of the truce, Israel was required to fully withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon by January 2025. However, it has only partially pulled back and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts, a persistent source of tension. Saturday’s attack has stoked fears that the hard-won peace could collapse, plunging the region back into widespread conflict.
