Israel is once again escalating its airstrikes against southern Lebanon this weekend, with a flurry of strikes killing at least four people and wounding dozens of others. As usual, Israeli officials are presenting one of the slain as a “Hezbollah commander.”
The attacks started Friday with an airstrike on a residential building in Nabatieh. At least 20 strikes were reported in the area, but one hit an apartment complex near the school, killing one woman and wounding at least 25.
The attacks continued Saturday when Israeli drones targeted a car in Kounine, killing one. The man was identified by the IDF as Hassan Muhammad Hamoudi, whom they claimed was a Hezbollah commander in charge of anti-tank missile fire during the war. A second strike against the Kounine area wounded two women.
Another strike was reported later Saturday against a motorcycle in Mahrouna, nearer to the coast, killing at least two people. Exactly who was killed has not been identified.
The attacks continued into Sunday morning with no sign of slowing. An Israeli drone strike was reported against Ayta ash-Shaab, though no one was reported wounded. Artillery shelling was also reported by some in the area.
Israeli media has suggested that the IDF will continue to step up the strikes, as the current ceasefire with Iran means they can renew the focus on Lebanon. There is a current ceasefire in Lebanon too, of course, but Israel has been effectively flouting it since it began. Thousands of Israeli strikes have been reported in Lebanon since the ceasefire went into effect in late November.
