Israeli forces carried out air attacks on four crossing points along the Syria–Lebanon border and several locations in southern Lebanon, killing at least two people and injuring nearly 20 others, according to Lebanese authorities. The attacks took place on Wednesday and came despite a US-brokered ceasefire that was meant to end more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024.

Israel said it targeted the border crossings because they were allegedly being used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons from Syria into Lebanon. The Israeli military also said it had “eliminated” a “key Hezbollah weapons smuggler” in the Sidon area of southern Lebanon. These statements were shared by the Israeli army on social media.

However, Lebanese officials strongly condemned the attacks, calling them a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and Lebanon’s sovereignty. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a sharp statement late on Wednesday, criticising Israel’s actions and accusing it of deliberately targeting civilians.

“Once again, Israel is pursuing a policy of systematic aggression by carrying out air strikes on inhabited Lebanese villages, in a dangerous escalation that directly targets civilians,” President Aoun said.

He further added, “This repeated aggressive behaviour reaffirms Israel’s refusal to abide by its obligations arising from the cessation of hostilities agreement.”

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least 19 people were wounded in Israeli air strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Qanarit. The state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes bombed buildings in several villages and towns across southern Lebanon. These included al-Kharayeb, al-Ansar, Qanarit, Kfour and Jarjouh. The attacks reportedly came after the Israeli army issued warnings that it would strike targets inside Lebanon.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said that an Israeli strike on a vehicle in the town of Zahrani, located in the Sidon district, killed one person. In a separate incident, another Israeli strike targeting a vehicle in the town of Bazuriyeh in the Tyre district also killed one person.

Journalists on the ground also came under danger during the attacks. The AFP news agency said its correspondent saw a charred car on a main road in Sidon, with debris scattered across the area and emergency workers present at the scene. AFP also reported that one of its photographers was slightly wounded, along with two other journalists, while covering a heavy Israeli strike in Qanarit, where 19 people were injured.

The Lebanese army also condemned the Israeli actions in an official statement. It said the attacks targeted “civilian buildings and homes” and described them as a “blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty” as well as the ceasefire agreement.

The Lebanese military further warned that such attacks are undermining its work on the ground. It said the strikes “hinder the army’s efforts” to complete the disarmament plan for Hezbollah, which was one of the key points included in the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024.

Despite international calls and internal pressure, Hezbollah has rejected demands to surrender its weapons. The group has maintained its position amid ongoing Israeli attacks. According to a casualty tally by AFP, more than 350 people have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire was signed, as a result of repeated Israeli strikes.

The latest developments have raised serious concerns about the stability of the ceasefire and the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon, as Israeli attacks continue even after an agreement meant to halt hostilities.