ALBAWABA- At least two people have been killed in Israeli air operations in Lebanon during the Christmas period, highlighting renewed regional instability and ongoing violations of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
On Thursday, Lebanon’s Civil Defense reported that two people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle near Hosh al-Sayyid Ali in the eastern Bekaa Valley. The strike, described as conducted under “emergency circumstances,” appears consistent with Israel’s repeated operations against alleged Hezbollah targets.
Earlier, on December 22, an Israeli drone strike on the Aqtnit-Quneitra road near Sidon in southern Lebanon killed three individuals, including Hassan Issa, Ali Abdallah, and Mustafa Ballout.
While the Israeli Defense Forces claimed the victims were Hezbollah operatives, Lebanese sources have not confirmed their affiliations, with indications that civilians were among those affected.
These incidents form part of a broader pattern of Israel’s violations of the November 2024 ceasefire, which has seen over 5,000 reported breaches, including airstrikes, drone raids, and overflights, according to Lebanese authorities.
Israel cites alleged Hezbollah rearmament south of the Litani River to justify its operations, while Lebanon UN, and humanitarian observers warn of escalating civilian risk.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions across the region, as Israel has also conducted air incursions into Syria and attacks on Palestinian territories, targeting Christmas festivals in addition to its Lebanon operations.
These actions not only undermine the truce but also threaten wider regional stability, putting civilians and longstanding diplomatic efforts at further risk.
