Lebanon has raised sharp concerns over what it described as a dangerous Israeli escalation following airstrikes early Saturday that hit industrial facilities and heavy-equipment yards in the southern town of Msayleh. The attack has renewed fears that Israel could be expanding its military campaign into Lebanese territory after the Gaza ceasefire.
President Joseph Aoun questioned whether “some are seeking to compensate for Gaza in Lebanon to sustain their political survival through fire and blood,” while the Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as “obstructing national efforts led by the Lebanese Army to ensure the exclusive possession of weapons by the state.”
The pre-dawn raids destroyed bulldozer and excavator showrooms along the Msayleh highway, setting off large fires. The Health Ministry reported one Syrian national killed and seven wounded - six Lebanese and one Syrian, including two women. The National News Agency (NNA) said around 300 heavy machines and vehicles were destroyed.
Msayleh, near the coastal city of Sidon and home to the residence of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, lies more than 40 kilometers from the Israeli border. The town is home to both Christian and Muslim communities.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility, saying it struck “Hezbollah infrastructure used to store engineering equipment intended for rebuilding terrorist facilities in southern Lebanon.” It accused Hezbollah of “endangering Lebanese civilians and using them as human shields.”
Aoun denounced the attack as “a blatant act of aggression against civilian installations without any justification,” warning that it came immediately after the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which had included a mechanism for arms containment. “This raises essential questions for Lebanon and the international community about whether the war’s flames are being deliberately reignited here,” he said.
Berri, for his part, condemned the strikes as “a deliberate assault on all Lebanese,” adding: “This is not merely an attack on Msayleh and its people, it is an attack on Lebanon’s unity. Christian and Muslim blood has mixed once again; let us stand united for Lebanon against aggression.”
The Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “persistent violations of Lebanese sovereignty” and a “new breach” of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which established the cessation of hostilities after the 2006 war. The ministry warned that such actions “undermine the army’s ongoing efforts to enforce the state’s sole authority over arms and preserve stability in the south.”
In a statement, Hezbollah said the Israeli aggression “cannot continue unchallenged” and urged the state to “shoulder its national responsibility to protect its citizens.” The group called for “national solidarity and a firm diplomatic response,” including an urgent complaint to the UN Security Council to pressure Israel to halt its violations.
