Suspected Hezbollah weapons convoy destroyed by IDF airstrike in Lebanon

20 hrs ago

Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out an airstrike on a Hezbollah weapons convoy in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, Jan. 28, targeting a truck and other vehicles suspected of transporting arms. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 14 people were wounded in the strike, which took place in the village of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, about 7 miles from the Israeli border.

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Israel defends strike as part of ceasefire agreement

The IDF said the convoy was under surveillance before being struck, claiming the operation was in accordance with a ceasefire agreement that allows for preemptive action against imminent threats. Under the deal, Hezbollah is required to withdraw north of the Litani River, about 18 miles from the Israeli border, while Israel retains the right to act against security threats in the region.

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Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strike and urged the United States to pressure Israel into honoring the ceasefire. His office also confirmed that Israel had freed nine Lebanese prisoners of war as part of the ongoing agreement and called for the release of nine more.

Displaced civilians warned not to return

The latest escalation comes as thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians attempt to return home after months of fighting. The IDF has warned residents to stay away, citing ongoing military operations aimed at preventing Hezbollah from reestablishing its presence in southern Lebanon.

Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, reiterated that Israeli forces remain deployed in the area and that military operations could continue beyond the Feb. 18 withdrawal deadline.

Hezbollah’s attacks displaced over a million in Lebanon

Hezbollah began launching near-daily attacks on northern Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza. In response, Israel launched airstrikes and ground operations against Hezbollah positions.

According to the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, the conflict has displaced approximately 1.3 million Lebanese and forced around 60,000 Israelis to evacuate northern communities. The humanitarian situation remains precarious as both sides continue to trade accusations of ceasefire violations.

Israel was initially expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26 but extended its presence until Feb. 18, citing delays in the Lebanese army’s deployment to the area. With both Israel and Hezbollah accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, the situation remains volatile, and the risk of further escalation looms over the region.

Tags: airstrikes, Benjamin Netanyahu, ceasefire, Explosion, Gaza, Hamas, hezbollah, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Lebanon

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCE SAYS IT STRUCK A HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS CONVOY IN SOUTHERN LEBANON TUESDAY, TARGETING A TRUCK AND OTHER VEHICLES SUSPECTED OF TRANSFERRING ARMS. LEBANON’S HEALTH MINISTRY REPORTS 14 PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED IN THE AIRSTRIKE.

IT HAPPENED ABOUT SEVEN MILES FROM THE ISRAELI BORDER. ISRAEL SAYS THE CONVOY WAS BEING MONITORED BEFORE THE ATTACK, CLAIMING IT WAS IN LINE WITH A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT ALLOWING STRIKES ON IMMINENT THREATS. THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED THE ATTACK, WITH PRIME MINISTER NAJIB MIKATI CALLING ON THE U.S. TO PRESSURE ISRAEL INTO HONORING THE CEASEFIRE.

THIS LATEST ESCALATION COMES AS THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED LEBANESE CIVILIANS TRY TO RETURN HOME AFTER MONTHS OF FIGHTING IN THE REGION. ISRAELI FORCES WARNED THEM TO STAY AWAY, CITING ONGOING MILITARY OPERATIONS TO PREVENT HEZBOLLAH FROM REGAINING A FOOTHOLD IN THE SOUTH.

HEZBOLLAH BEGAN LAUNCHING ATTACKS INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL FOLLOWING HAMAS’ OCTOBER 7TH ASSAULT. THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SAYS THE VIOLENCE DISPLACED AROUND 1.3 MILLION LEBANESE AND FORCED 60-THOUSAND ISRAELIS TO EVACUATE BORDER COMMUNITIES.

ISRAEL WAS EXPECTED TO WITHDRAW FROM SOUTHERN LEBANON BY JANUARY 26 BUT EXTENDED ITS PRESENCE TO FEBRUARY 18, CITING DELAYS IN LEBANESE ARMY DEPLOYMENTS. THE SITUATION REMAINS VOLATILE AS BOTH SIDES ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF VIOLATING THE CEASEFIRE.

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