Last Friday at around 19:00, an Israeli air strike targeted a car in the village of Froun, southern Lebanon, a region deeply influenced by Hezbollah, the powerful Shia Muslim militia and political party. Streets are adorned with banners celebrating fallen fighters as 'martyrs of the resistance'. I arrived in Froun an hour after the strike; rescue workers had already removed the body parts of the sole casualty, whom the Israeli military identified as a 'Hezbollah terrorist'.
Despite a ceasefire agreement established last November, meant to end the recent war with Hezbollah, Israeli bombardments have continued almost daily. 'Who is going to help us?' asked resident Mohamad Mokdad, as he cleaned his porch, still shaken by the event. 'I just want to live in peace,' he expressed, seemingly referring indirectly to Hezbollah. Israel maintains that its strikes target Hezbollah's recovery efforts following its depletion during the conflict.
The ceasefire had halted 13 months of warfare, resulting in 4,000 Lebanese and 120 Israeli fatalities. Tensions reignited when Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire following Israel’s war initiation in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led offensive on 7 October 2023. The US and France facilitated the truce, mandating Hezbollah's withdrawal beyond the Litani River and Israeli troops' retreat from lands held during the war. Yet, the Israeli military still occupies strategic hilltops in southern Lebanon and frequently targets sites associated with Hezbollah.
The United Nations peacekeeping force, Unifil, reports over 10,000 Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, while the Lebanese health ministry records over 330 fatalities, predominantly civilians. Israeli officials claim Hezbollah's military activities would breach the ceasefire, though evidence remains undisclosed. Tensions are high as Israeli officials brief about potential escalations against Hezbollah.
The Israeli attack in Froun occurred just outside Mohamad Mokdad's house
Lebanese communities near the Israeli border are devastated, with many residents still displaced, underscoring the persistent insecurity and unrest in the region.