Israeli Raid in Southern Lebanon Triggers Outrage After Municipal Employee’s Death | PRIMENEWSNOW

The operation has drawn sharp criticism from Lebanese authorities and ignited protests among the local population.

According to an Israeli military statement, the troops entered the area to dismantle “terrorist infrastructure” linked to Hezbollah and encountered a suspect within the premises, whom they attempted to detain.

The statement further mentioned that shots were fired to “neutralize a threat,” and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Despite a US-mediated ceasefire that ostensibly ended the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict last November, Israel has maintained frequent strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah’s assets and personnel.

Israeli forces continue to hold several key positions on the Lebanese side of the border, though ground raids like the one in Blida are uncommon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed that Ibrahim Salameh, a municipal worker, was killed “while fulfilling his duties.”

The National News Agency reported that Israeli troops entered Blida around 1:30 am, storming the municipal building where Salameh was resting.

“He often stayed overnight at the municipality,” explained Tahsin Kaour, a local official. “Upon hearing a disturbance, he approached the window to investigate and was shot.”

Lebanese officials argue that Israel’s actions frequently endanger civilians and damage infrastructure unrelated to Hezbollah, urging Israeli forces to withdraw.

Blida residents expressed frustration with the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers, accusing them of failing to safeguard civilians. They confronted UNIFIL personnel who arrived in the village, demanding their departure.

“We need the government and the Lebanese army to protect us,” Kaour stated.

President Aoun has instructed the Lebanese military to “counter any Israeli incursions” into southern Lebanon to defend the nation’s territory and citizens, though the specifics of this directive remain unclear.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized that Lebanese authorities are actively engaging with the United Nations and international mediators to halt ongoing violations and ensure a full Israeli withdrawal.

UNIFIL expressed “grave concern” over the Israeli incursion, labeling it a “blatant breach” of Lebanon’s sovereignty and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which also sparked the Gaza war.

Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, prompting Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire. The conflict escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024.