• Mou Mou
• 21 Feb, 2025

Israel confirmed on Friday that its air force targeted smuggling routes on the Lebanon-Syria border used by Hezbollah. A monitoring group reported that several people were injured and infrastructure was severely damaged.

Details & Context

The Israeli military stated that the strikes aimed at preventing Hezbollah an Iran-backed militant group from transporting weapons into Lebanon. These activities according to Israel violate the ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

A war monitoring organisation the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the attack rendered an “illegal crossing” near Wadi Khaled a border town between Lebanon and Syria, inoperable. The strike followed the movement of a convoy from Syria to Lebanon suspected of carrying smuggled goods and weapons.

The attack caused “heavy material damage to buildings and vehicles,” said SOHR chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

Lebanese state media confirmed that Israeli warplanes flew at low altitudes over several areas, including Hermel and the Bekaa Valley both close to the Syrian border.

Background & Significance

Since November 27th Israel and Hezbollah have observed a fragile ceasefire following prolonged hostilities. Under the agreement,

- Lebanon’s military and UN peacekeepers were to monitor southern Lebanon.

- Hezbollah was required to withdraw its forces beyond the Litani River (about 30 km from the Israeli border).

- Israel was supposed to gradually pull back its troops from key areas.

However tensions have continued with both sides accusing each other of ceasefire violations.

Earlier this month Israel claimed responsibility for an airstrike targeting a smuggling tunnel along the Syria-Lebanon border. In January Israel also conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah’s positions including suspected weapon routes.

Read More: EU to Lift Key Sanctions on Syria’s Banking, Energy and Transport Sectors

The Lebanon-Syria border spans 330 km with no official demarcation. Hezbollah controls large sections of this area and had previously supported Syrian President Bashar Assad during the country’s civil war. However after Assad was removed from power Hezbollah lost one of its major supply routes increasing Israeli concerns over weapon smuggling.

With ongoing airstrikes and ceasefire tensions the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains unresolved. The latest attack highlights Israel’s determination to curb arms smuggling while Hezbollah continues to resist. Whether diplomatic efforts can prevent further escalation remains uncertain.