Israeli forces bulldoze land after crossing into southern Lebanese town despite ceasefire

By Wassim Seifeddine and Tarek Chouiref

BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (AA) - An Israeli military force crossed into the outskirts of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon early Tuesday and carried out bulldozing operations, marking a new breach of a ceasefire agreement.

According to Lebanon’s state-run news agency NNA, the force was backed by three military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and moved from a recently established Israeli position on Jabal al-Bat hill, near the village.

The troops began leveling land along the road connecting Zaqaq to Jabal al-Bat. About an hour and a half later, the vehicles pulled back toward the Arid intersection, where the bulldozer resumed digging in the area.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) later arrived at the scene, prompting the Israeli vehicles to turn off their lights, the agency reported.

Separately, the Israeli army detonated an explosive device near the southern town of Aita al-Shaab. The nature of the blast remains unclear.

Israeli reconnaissance drones also flew at low altitude over the southern town of Adloun and surrounding areas.

Cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon escalated into a full-scale war in September 2024. Despite a November ceasefire, Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah’s activities.

Since then, Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 257 people and injuries to more than 560.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.