Beirut/Damascus: The Israeli military launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting border crossings between Syria and Lebanon, alleging that Hezbollah was using these routes to smuggle weapons into Lebanon.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hezbollah of exploiting these crossings for “illegal arms transfers,” calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon, in effect since November 27, 2024, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The IDF emphasized that it would “continue operating to neutralize threats to Israel” and prevent Hezbollah from “rebuilding its military capabilities.”
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, the Israeli strikes hit locations in Syria’s rugged Qalamoun region near the Lebanese border—historically known for Hezbollah’s alleged arms transfers.
No casualties or significant damage have been reported so far, and there were no immediate responses from Syrian or Lebanese authorities or Hezbollah.
Earlier this month, Israel conducted airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in eastern and southern Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike hit an underground tunnel in Lebanon’s Bekaa region, allegedly used for arms transfers from Syria. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force struck sites in southern Lebanon containing “munitions and rocket launchers that posed an imminent threat.”
