Above photo: EFE.
The Israeli army shot a Lebanese citizen in the head in Wadi al-Hujayr.
And detained him before handing him over to UNIFIL and the Lebanese army.
Israeli forces stepped up their ongoing violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon on 26 December, pushing troops deeper into south Lebanon and kidnapping a Lebanese citizen.
“The Israeli enemy continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, attack Lebanon’s sovereignty and citizens, and destroy southern villages and towns,” the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) said in a statement on Thursday.
“In this context, on 12/26/2024, Israeli enemy forces penetrated several points in the areas of Qantara, Adshit al-Qusayr, and Wadi al-Hujayr. The Lebanese army has reinforced its deployment in these areas, while the army command is following up on the situation in coordination with the UNIFIL and the five-member committee supervising the ceasefire agreement,” the statement added.
Video footage showed Israeli army soldiers and vehicles moving through the southern town of Wadi al-Hujayr on Thursday.
Lebanese Army:
○ “On 12/26/2024, Israeli enemy forces penetrated several points in the areas of Qantara, Adshit al-Qusayr, and Wadi al-Hujayr.”
○ “The Israeli enemy continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, attack Lebanon’s sovereignty and citizens, and destroy southern… pic.twitter.com/qk2QvOoP43
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) December 26, 2024
Al-Akhbar’s correspondent reported earlier on Thursday that Israeli forces advanced from the Taybeh project towards the towns of Adshit al-Qusayr and Al-Qantara until they reached Wadi al-Hujayr during the early morning hours.
The Lebanese army closed the road leading to Wadi al-Hujayr while Merkava tanks roamed the valley, coinciding with search operations in its forests.
Israeli troops also shot and abducted a Lebanese citizen in Wadi al-Hujayr. He was eventually released and handed over to UNIFIL before being transferred by a Lebanese army ambulance. The citizen, Hussam Fawaz, sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
Earlier today Al-Akhbar’s correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that an Israeli force advanced towards the Wadi al-Hujayr valley, coinciding with intensive machine gun fire and bulldozing operations.
The force also abducted and shot a Lebanese citizen, Hossam Fawaz, in the… pic.twitter.com/rfidQjX00Q
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) December 26, 2024
Israel launched early on 25 December the first airstrike on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley since the start of the ceasefire last month. Hours later, Israeli forces opened fire at a UNIFIL and Lebanese Red Cross convoy and detonated homes in Mays al-Jabal, in south Lebanon.
Israel has violated the ceasefire – which is based on the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 – over 100 times since it took effect with deadly airstrikes, arrests of Lebanese citizens, troop advancements, and mass detonation campaigns in southern villages. Tel Aviv claims to be targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the south – which is the Lebanese army’s responsibility as per the agreement.
Security sources in Lebanon told The Cradle on 23 December that the Israeli army is unhappy with the LAF’s efforts to implement the ceasefire and is planning to maintain a presence in the south.
“The French conveyed to the Lebanese army that the Israeli military is not satisfied with what is happening [in south Lebanon] and that it will not leave before destroying all of Hezbollah’s infrastructure [south of Litani River, even after the 60-day implementation period ends],” the sources said.
Israeli troops are required to withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days of the ceasefire’s announcement. So far, it has been four weeks, leaving only a month before the Israeli army must withdraw, according to the agreement.
“The incursion of Israeli enemy forces into Lebanese territory, reaching Wadi al-Hujayr, constitutes an extremely dangerous development. This incursion constitutes a serious threat to the announcement of the executive procedures for Resolution 1701 and undermines the weak credibility of the committee supervising its implementation,” Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad said on Thursday.
“This development shows Israeli behavior that is outside of any commitment or procedures, as if there is no understanding or commitment. This requires the Lebanese state, government, army and relevant parties to reassess the situation immediately,” he added, calling for the US-led tripartite mechanism to oversee violation to be “reviewed” and condemning its “disastrous failure” to prevent Israeli violations.