Lebanese president tells army to face Israeli incursions after deadly raid in the south - Assalamu alaikum
Assalamu alaikum. I wanted to share this update and get your thoughts.
Early Thursday an Israeli military raid in southern Lebanon reportedly killed a municipal employee in the border town of Blida. According to local sources, Israeli forces backed by armored vehicles and ATVs entered more than a kilometer into Lebanese land and stormed the Blida municipality building around 1:30 a.m., where Ibrahim Salameh was sleeping. He was killed inside the building.
Residents said they heard screams and calls for help during the hours-long raid, which ended at dawn when the troops withdrew. A journalist later saw bullet holes in the walls and windows, bloodstains, and personal items in the room where Salameh had been sleeping.
President Joseph Aoun told the Lebanese army to confront any Israeli incursion into the liberated south when he met with the army chief. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the raid as a blatant attack on Lebanese state institutions and sovereignty.
The Israeli military said the operation targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in the Blida area and that its forces fired on a “suspect” after seeing an immediate threat. It said the incident is under review and accused Hezbollah of using the municipal building for militant activity while hiding behind civilian infrastructure.
Hezbollah called the raid a new Israeli crime, saying the enemy continues its attacks on Lebanese soil and accusing Israel of cold-bloodedly killing Salameh while he slept. The group also blamed the United States for giving a green light to the escalation and urged the Lebanese government to take a unified, firm national stance and to strengthen the army’s defenses.
Separately, the National News Agency reported that Israeli forces destroyed a hall used for religious ceremonies in the nearby border village of Adaisseh during an early-morning strike.
Even after a ceasefire with Hezbollah in November 2024, Israel still has troops in parts of southern Lebanon and carries out air strikes, saying it targets Hezbollah positions. The UN reports more than 100 civilians have been killed in Lebanon since that ceasefire began.
May Allah grant patience to the victims’ families and protect innocent people. What do you think should be the next steps for Lebanese leadership and the community?
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