Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has issued a critical directive ordering the country’s armed forces to actively confront any future Israeli incursions into the South. The decisive announcement on Thursday followed an overnight raid by Israeli forces that crossed the border and resulted in the killing of a municipal worker.
This pivotal shift in policy comes after days of near-daily Israeli violations of a ceasefire that was put in place last November. While the Lebanese Army has typically maintained a neutral stance in the conflict, President Aoun—a former army commander-appears to have lost patience with what he terms the Israeli-enforced status quo.
President Aoun instructed Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal to ensure the army “confront any Israeli incursion into liberated southern territory, in defence of Lebanese territory and the safety of citizens,” according to a presidential statement.
The order was issued just hours after Israeli soldiers entered the border town of Blida and stormed the town hall. During the raid, municipal employee Ibrahim Salameh, who had been sleeping in the building, was killed by gunfire, as reported by the state-owned National News Agency (NNA).
Local residents indicated the Israeli forces remained inside the town hall for approximately two hours before withdrawing at dawn. The Israeli military confirmed its operation in Blida, claiming forces opened fire after identifying an “immediate threat” during an action to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure. They provided no immediate evidence, however, and the incident is currently under review.
The incursion and subsequent killing were swiftly condemned by President Aoun as part of a recurring pattern of Israeli aggression. He urged the committee monitoring the cessation of hostilities to pressure Israel to strictly adhere to the November 27 ceasefire and respect Lebanese sovereignty. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam similarly denounced the raid as a “blatant attack” on the state’s sovereignty and institutions.
The order for the army to engage with Israeli forces has been welcomed by Hezbollah, which urged its full support for the military. Hezbollah, which has historically been the primary resistance force against Israel in the region, fought a prolonged war with Israel following the truce and has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of top leaders.
Israeli air strikes were also reported in the southern Lebanese areas of Mahmoudiyeh and Jarmak on Thursday, with the military citing operations against Hezbollah infrastructure. Meanwhile, residents in the capital, Beirut, reported the almost daily sound of Israeli Hermes 450 surveillance drones, which are also capable of carrying payloads, a common violation of the country’s airspace.
