Israel’s recent air strike in Sidon, Lebanon, killed Hamas commander Hassan Farhat and his family, provoking condemnation from Lebanese officials as a breach of sovereignty and ceasefire. The incident adds to ongoing tensions and hostilities despite recent agreements aiming for calm between Israel and Hezbollah.
On Friday, Israel conducted a military strike in Sidon, Lebanon, resulting in the death of Hassan Farhat, a reported commander of Hamas, along with his adult son and daughter. The Israeli military stated that Farhat was responsible for orchestrating attacks on Israeli forces, including a rocket firing that killed an Israeli soldier in Safed earlier this year.
The strike occurred at 3:45 a.m. local time, targeting a residential area, which led to significant destruction and caused panic among residents. Lebanese state media reported that at least three individuals lost their lives, with further reports indicating a total of four fatalities, which included a woman, following an earlier strike in south Beirut.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the action, branding it a “flagrant attack on Lebanese sovereignty” that violates the November 27 ceasefire agreement with Israel. He called for international pressure on Israel to cease its recurrent attacks, particularly those affecting civilian populations.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high, as Israel continues air strikes on Hezbollah and related groups. The situation is exacerbated by Hezbollah’s supposed redeployment of forces as stipulated under the truce, while Israel has yet to withdraw its forces from strategic positions along the UN-demarcated Blue Line. The conflict between these entities has escalated since hostilities resumed last September.
The assassination of Hamas commander Hassan Farhat by Israeli forces in Lebanon raises significant geopolitical concerns regarding Lebanese sovereignty and ongoing hostilities in the region. The resultant casualties and destruction have prompted strong condemnation from Lebanese officials and a call for international intervention, highlighting the fragile nature of the ceasefire and increased tensions between Israel and militant groups. Continued military actions from both sides suggest an unstable and contentious scenario in the region.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
