The fragile ceasefire, which had been agreed upon in November 2024 between Israel and Lebanon, has collapsed spectacularly after the Netanyahu regime carried out multiple violations of the truce along the southern borders of the Arab country.
In response, the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, for the first time during his presidency, made it clear that he will activate the country’s army to repel the Israeli provocations.
For its part, the Shiite organization Hezbollah – which has been severely struck by Israel over the past 2 years – placed its forces at the disposal of the national army, clarifying that it supports the actions of President Aoun.
President Aoun: Respond immediately to Israeli provocations – IDF invaded and killed a municipal employee in Lebanon
The President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, on Thursday, 30/10, ordered the army to confront any Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon, after Israeli forces crossed the border overnight and killed a municipal employee, despite the ceasefire brokered by the United States.
Historically, the Lebanese army has remained on the sidelines of major confrontations with Israel and has not directly faced the Israeli army in recent months.
For Israel, there was never a ceasefire in Lebanon
However, revealing their true stance toward the ceasefire, Israeli warplanes flew over the Presidential Palace in Beirut, according to a witness, shortly after Aoun’s first order for army engagement with Israeli troops since he became president in January.
The Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, which fought Israel for more than a year after the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023, expressed support for the President’s call.
Israel has continued airstrikes and limited ground operations on Lebanese territory since the ceasefire, claiming its actions are meant to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military presence in the south, while Lebanon accuses Israel of violating the truce.
Israelis violated the ceasefire – Hezbollah takes up arms again
It is noted that on the morning of Wednesday, 29/10, Israeli troops entered the border town of Blida and opened fire inside the Municipal Building, killing an employee who was there, the Lebanese Army said in a statement, describing the incident as a “criminal act” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Lebanese state news agency (NNA) identified the worker as Ibrahim Salameh, who had been sleeping in the building.
It was not immediately clear whether Salameh had been a deliberate target, and if so, for what reason.
The Israeli army stated that its forces opened fire in Blida after identifying an “immediate threat” during an operation to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure.
The incident is under investigation, it added.
Order from President Aoun: Protect the borders from the Israeli invader – Hezbollah: We support you
Aoun asked the Army Commander, General Rudolph Haykal, “to ensure that the Lebanese Army confronts any Israeli incursion into the liberated southern territories, in defense of Lebanese lands and the safety of citizens,” according to a Presidential statement.
Hezbollah, which Aoun had been urged to disarm under U.S. pressure according to the ceasefire agreement, stated that it appreciates his orders and called for support of the army in confronting Israel.
It did not specify from where that support would come.
“Hezbollah calls for full support of the army with all available capabilities to strengthen its defensive power and provide the necessary political cover to face this brutal enemy,” the organization said in its statement.
At the same time, Hezbollah declared that it rejects the U.S.-Israeli pressure it faces to disarm.
Lebanon refers the Netanyahu regime to the United Nations
After being deployed at the site at 4 a.m., the Lebanese Army found no military infrastructure in the building and observed bullet marks indicating that Israeli troops had fired extensively from outside, said a Lebanese security official.
A senior Lebanese security official told Reuters that Salameh’s body was found in his pajamas, in a pool of blood on the floor, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Aoun condemned the attack as part of a pattern of Israeli aggression and said it was launched shortly after a meeting of the international Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, chaired by the United States.
He urged the committee to go beyond recording violations and to pressure Israel to comply with the November 27, 2024 ceasefire agreement and to stop violating Lebanon’s sovereignty.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in southern Lebanon stated that it is seeking more information about the incident.
Israel had already inflicted several heavy blows on Hezbollah during the war, killing senior leaders of the organization; however, cells of the Shiite group are now beginning to reorganize rapidly.
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