Israeli warplanes carried out more than ten airstrikes at dawn on Saturday in Lebanon's Masilah region, marking the most intense attack since the November 2024 ceasefire.
The strikes killed one Syrian civilian, injured seven others, and caused significant damage to heavy equipment facilities, raising concerns over escalating violations and regional instability.
The airstrikes specifically targeted bulldozers and excavators, key heavy equipment assets in Lebanon. The force of the missiles turned the area into a fireball, destroying over 300 vehicles, including 100 small Bobcats, and completely razing the exhibition facilities, including buildings, steel tents, and parked cars.
The raids also blocked the Mseileh-Nabatieh road due to craters and oil leaks from the vehicles, before civil defense teams worked to remove the debris and reopen the road. Dozens of homes and buildings were damaged in the attack.
These raids come amid escalating Israeli violations since the ceasefire agreement, with more than 4,500 violations recorded by October 2025, according to the Lebanese army, resulting in the deaths of 297 people and injuries to more than 600 others.
In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli airstrikes, describing them as "blatant aggression without any justification or excuse," and stressing that the timing of this escalation poses political and security challenges for Lebanon and the international community.
President Aoun stated that this reality forces the Lebanese people and the international community to confront fundamental questions, particularly: Is anyone seeking political compensation for Gaza through escalation in Lebanon? And is it reasonable to involve Lebanon in the Gaza war under the banner of support, only to exclude it from the truce?
Aoun also called for a clear international stance to deter repeated Israeli violations and to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701, ensuring the protection of civilians and vital infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri also said in a statement that Saturday's aggression "reflects the aggressive nature of the Israeli entity" and that it is "an aggression against Lebanon and all its people," calling for unity for the sake of Lebanon in the face of aggression.
Concerns mount in Lebanon after Israeli strikes on civilian facilities in south Lebanon
Concerns mount in Lebanon after Israeli strikes on civilian facilities in south Lebanon
