BEIRUT (Realist English). Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has ordered the country’s army to confront any Israeli incursions into southern Lebanon following new airstrikes and a deadly Israeli ground assault in the border town of Blida, which left one civilian dead.
In a statement released Thursday, the Lebanese presidency said Aoun instructed Army Commander General Rudolphe Haikal to “defend Lebanese territory and ensure the safety of citizens” amid ongoing Israeli violations in the south.
According to the statement, General Haikal briefed the president on an Israeli ground incursion in Blida early Thursday, during which municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh was killed while on duty. Aoun condemned the attack as part of “ongoing Israeli aggressive practices,” noting that it occurred shortly after a meeting of the UN committee monitoring the cessation of hostilities.
In a separate statement, Hezbollah denounced the assault, accusing both Israel and the United States of coordinating the escalation.
“The criminal Zionist enemy continues its series of crimes on Lebanese soil, intensifying its incursions and violating Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Hezbollah said, calling Washington a “partner in every Israeli escalation.” The group praised Aoun’s directive as a “national and courageous position” and urged the government to strengthen the army’s defensive capabilities.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the Blida attack, describing the killing of a municipal employee as “a blatant assault on Lebanon’s sovereignty and state institutions.”
“We stand in full solidarity with our people in the south, who are paying the price for their right to live in safety and dignity,” Salam said.
The incident comes despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which took effect on November 27, 2024, following 14 months of intense conflict.
Since then, Israel has repeatedly violated the truce, launching airstrikes and ground operations across southern Lebanon. Israeli forces continue to occupy several key border areas — including Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill — in what Beirut calls a clear breach of the ceasefire and withdrawal terms.
