Tensions are rising again in southern Lebanon as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah continues to fray, prompting a municipal evacuation order in Aytaroun on Monday.The alert follows reports of a planned Israeli operation within the town and a subsequent drone strike involving sound bombs, underscoring the persistent volatility along the border. This incident occurs nearly a year after the November 27, 2024 ceasefire agreement-brokered following a devastating conflict that began in October 2023-aimed to curb hostilities and prevent further loss of life in the region.
The municipality of Aytaroun, in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district, was evacuated Monday following a security alert that Israel was planning an attack in the town.
According to a statement released by the municipality, security forces notified them that Israel “intends to target a specific location within the town.”
The municipality said it took “precautionary measures, including the evacuation of the municipal center and raising the level of alert.” Residents were urged to “exercise caution” as intelligence suggested a potential Israeli operation targeting a location in Aytaroun, the location of which remains unknown.
Later Monday, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone dropped four sound bombs on the outskirts of the town.
The incident comes amid daily violations of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, declared on November 27, 2024. These breaches have resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries. The agreement aimed to end Israeli aggression against Lebanon, which began in October 2023 and escalated into a full-scale war in September 2024, claiming the lives of over 4,000 people and injuring approximately 17,000.
Israel continues to challenge the ceasefire by maintaining control of five hills in southern Lebanon seized during the recent conflict, as well as other Lebanese territories occupied for decades.
Targeting of al-Mansouri
In a related development, the Israeli army announced Monday that it killed a Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon, raising concerns about a potential escalation after nearly a year of the ceasefire.
The army stated that its forces “carried out a strike last night (Sunday) that eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist named Mohammed Ali Shoueikh in the al-Mansouri area of southern Lebanon.”
Shoueikh, according to the statement, “was responsible for communication between the organization and residents of the area regarding financial and military matters, and also worked to seize private property for use in terrorism.” The army characterized recent Hezbollah activities as “a violation of understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its capabilities and rearm.
Amid growing fears of a wider escalation, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun recently expressed willingness to negotiate with Israel to halt its raids, but his proposal has not received a response.
On Sunday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that an Israeli tank fired on its forces in southern Lebanon, while the Israeli army said it did not intentionally fire on the UNIFIL force.
