Israel strikes four Syria-Lebanon border crossings

Jan 21 (Reuters) - Israel ⁠launched strikes ⁠on ‍four border crossings on the Syria-Lebanon border on Wednesday, saying they were used by ‍the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah to smuggle weapons.

Israel ​and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024, ending ​more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that culminated in Israeli strikes that severely weakened the group. Since ​then, both sides have traded accusations of violations.

Lebanon has faced growing pressure from the U.S. ​and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, and its leaders fear that Israel could ‌dramatically escalate strikes across the battered country to push Lebanon's leaders to confiscate Hezbollah's ​arsenal more quickly.

Another Israeli strike on ⁠the southern Lebanese village of Qennarit wounded 19 people, the Lebanese health ministry ‌said.

The Israeli military had issued a warning on Wednesday to residents of certain buildings in the southern Lebanese ‌villages of Qennarit, Kfour and Jarjouaa ahead of planned strikes on ‌what was described as Hezbollah infrastructure.

"Once again, Israel is pursuing a policy of systematic aggression by carrying out air strikes ‍on inhabited Lebanese villages, in a dangerous escalation that directly targets civilians", Lebanese ⁠President Joseph Aoun said in a post on X.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam, Tala Ramadan, Yomna Ehab and Jaidaa Taha; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Rod Nickel)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• French authorities responding to incident involving civilian aircraft
• Voting begins in delayed New Caledonia provincial elections
• Israel damaged heritage sites across south Lebanon, minister says