An Israeli airstrike targeted the Jabal al-Rafee area near the southern Lebanese town of Sajd shortly after a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem stated that the group would respond with weapons if attacked, emphasizing their commitment despite threats.
Qassem, in a televised speech, declared the failure of attempts to eliminate Hezbollah and expel the occupation, asserting that Israel will retreat from Lebanese territory. He warned of a critical phase for Lebanon, accusing Israel of undermining the country’s future by manipulating political authorities and impeding reconstruction efforts in conflict-affected regions.
Hezbollah’s focus, as mentioned by Qassem, remains solely on countering Israel. He urged Israel to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Israeli airstrike on Jabal al-Rafee occurred just after the ceasefire began, as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Ibrahim al-Moussawi from Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire terms, conditional on Israel’s compliance. Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported a total of 3,980 fatalities and 12,001 injuries from Israeli attacks since March 2.
