An early morning raid by Israeli forces in the border town of Blida, southern Lebanon, has left one municipal worker dead, sparking outrage in Beirut over what officials describe as a “flagrant breach of sovereignty.”
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), Israeli troops crossed about one kilometre into Lebanese territory around 1:30 a.m., storming the Blida municipal building. The victim, identified as Ibrahim Salameh, was reportedly on duty when he was shot dead inside the facility.
Witnesses said the incursion lasted nearly three hours, accompanied by heavy military vehicles and gunfire. Lebanese forces later recovered Salameh’s body after the Israelis withdrew.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed an operation took place in southern Lebanon but claimed soldiers opened fire only after identifying a suspect who “posed an immediate threat.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incident, calling it “a deliberate attack on Lebanese state institutions.” President Joseph Aoun ordered the Lebanese Army to “confront any Israeli incursion” along the border, while the Foreign Ministry filed an urgent complaint with the United Nations over the violation.
The deadly raid underscores rising tensions along the Lebanon-Israel frontier despite a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah that has held since late 2024. Analysts warn that such cross-border actions risk sparking a new cycle of hostilities in an already volatile region.
“This is not an isolated incident — it signals growing aggressiveness in the border area,” said a Beirut-based security analyst. “Each side is testing the limits of deterrence, and civilians are paying the price.”
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