Israel bombs south Lebanon ahead of elections

Israel launched a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon on 22nd May, intensifying its military campaign in the region just days before critical municipal elections, according to reports from The National and Reuters.

One of the most significant strikes hit a building adjacent to a major roadway in the town of Toul, northwest of Nabatieh. While no casualties were reported, the building was heavily damaged and engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of smoke seen rising in widely circulated videos on social media.

The Israeli military claimed the building housed Hezbollah infrastructure, though it did not provide evidence to support the assertion. It said warnings were issued for civilians to evacuate a 500-meter radius prior to the attack.

Additional strikes were reported in Houla and near the coastal town of Naqoura. In one incident, a missile landed near a fisherman, who escaped unharmed. The Israeli military stated that it had targeted several Hezbollah positions and claimed to have killed a member of the group’s elite Radwan Force near the village of Rab El Thalathine, approximately 17 kilometers southeast of Toul.

The escalation follows deadly attacks earlier in the week. Lebanese authorities reported that three people were killed in Israeli strikes on 21st May, further heightening tensions in the lead-up to Saturday’s municipal vote in the country’s south.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the bombardments, describing them as “repeated Israeli aggressions against Lebanon at a critical moment just before municipal elections.” The timing of the attacks, he suggested, was aimed at destabilising the electoral process in regions where Hezbollah holds sway.

Despite the flare-up, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem urged supporters to participate in the elections, calling for a “resounding” turnout in areas where the Shiite group maintains strong grassroots support.

Israel has maintained near-daily airstrikes in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah in November. However, the airstrikes on 22nd May mark a notable shift: unlike recent drone operations targeting individuals, these attacks included broader military actions and, unusually, civilian evacuation advisories prior to impact.

The renewed hostilities underscore the fragility of the current ceasefire and the growing risk of wider conflict as both sides engage in tit-for-tat operations while political tensions rise across Lebanon.

The National/ Reuters/ Maghrebi.org