Israel conducted a strike in Sidon, Lebanon, killing Hamas commander Hassan Farhat and two family members, eliciting condemnation from Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for violating sovereignty and the ceasefire. The attack has heightened tensions in the region, reflecting ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
On Friday, Israel executed a targeted strike in Sidon, Lebanon, resulting in the death of a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Hassan Farhat, along with his adult son and daughter. The Israeli military claimed that Farhat had orchestrated multiple attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians amidst ongoing hostilities following the conflict in Gaza that ignited in October 2023. Among these alleged attacks was rocket fire on the town of Safed, which led to the death of an Israeli soldier.
This strike, which devastated a residential flat and nearby buildings, sparked outrage and condemnation from Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who described it as a “flagrant attack on Lebanese sovereignty” and a breach of the ceasefire established on November 27. The early morning raid caused significant panic throughout the densely populated neighborhood, prompting emergency personnel to recover the bodies of three deceased individuals from the wreckage.
Further details shared by Lebanese state media indicated that the strike occurred around 3:45 AM local time, involving a drone that initiated two sequential explosions, igniting a considerable fire and causing extensive structural damage. Amidst this escalation, Prime Minister Salam urged for heightened pressure on Israel to cease its recurrent assaults on predominantly residential areas.
Earlier in the week, Israeli forces conducted another strike in southern Beirut, resulting in the death of a Hezbollah liaison officer—an action that marks an infrequent occurrence since the ceasefire. In response to these attacks, Israel asserted that they were reactions to recent rocket fire, despite Hezbollah’s denial of involvement.
The ongoing conflict has seen intense hostilities, particularly between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been targets of Israeli airstrikes post-ceasefire agreement. Under the terms of the truce, Hezbollah is required to reposition its forces away from the Israeli border and dismantle military assets in southern Lebanon, whereas Israel is expected to withdraw its troops to the UN-delineated Blue Line, a process that has yet to be fulfilled as Israel continues to occupy strategic positions.
The recent strike by Israel in Sidon resulted in the death of a Hamas commander and two family members, intensifying tensions in the region. Lebanese officials have condemned the assault, asserting it undermines national sovereignty and violates a ceasefire agreement. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues, with both parties engaged in retaliatory measures, exacerbating the volatile situation despite existing diplomatic efforts for peace.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
