By Middle East Correspondent
London, (The Muslim News): Across Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, Israeli military operations have continued despite ceasefire agreements or de-escalation mechanisms intended to halt violence. Regional tensions remain high, particularly amid concerns of broader confrontation involving Iran and the United States.
While ceasefires have formally taken effect in both Lebanon and Gaza, reported violations and continued strikes have deepened instability, leaving civilians across the region bearing the brunt of renewed hostilities.
Lebanon: Syrian teenager killed, 29 injured by Israeli attacks
A 17-year-old Syrian teenager was killed and at least 29 others were injured on Thursday after Israeli airstrikes struck eastern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in place since November 2024.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Hussein Mohsen al-Khalaf was killed in a strike targeting the Beit Mshik farms area near Kfar Dan in western Baalbek. Israeli warplanes carried out at least 13 airstrikes across the western Baalbek region, including Shmestar, Boudai, Harbata, Hermel, and the Nabi Chit mountains. Fighter jets were reported flying at low altitude, and several shops in the Baalbek Souk were damaged.
The Israeli military claimed that the strikes targeted infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah’s “Radwan Force.”
In southern Lebanon, an Israeli drone fired a guided missile at a wooded area near Nabatieh al-Fawqa. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army continued reinforcing defensive positions in the Marjayoun district, particularly in Sarda, where troops installed fencing and raised earth mounds along areas frequently exposed to Israeli incursions.
Tensions along the border escalated earlier in the week when Lebanese forces reported coming under Israeli gunfire near a newly established observation point. Israel described the fire as “warning shots.”
Since the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, more than 300 people — including 127 civilians — have reportedly been killed by Israel in Lebanon, according to United Nations figures. Israel continues to occupy five strategic hilltops seized during the latest war.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned against dragging Lebanon into “a new war,” stressing that the country has already suffered through devastating conflict and ongoing Israeli attacks. His remarks followed statements by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who said the group would not remain neutral if Iran were attacked by the United States or Israel.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged Hezbollah to avoid involvement in any potential regional escalation, cautioning that participation in a US-Iran conflict could expose Lebanon’s infrastructure to further Israeli strikes.
Palestine: Israel continues to attack Gaza and West Bank despite October 2025 ceasefire
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed two Palestinian civilians and wounded dozens near Al-Mahatta Park in the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, northeast of Gaza City.
Although a US-backed ceasefire went into effect on October 10, 2025, Palestinian health authorities report that 618 Palestinians have been killed and 1,663 injured since the truce began. An additional 726 bodies have reportedly been recovered during that period.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians — most of them women and children — and injured over 171,000 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Earlier on Wednesday, two Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah and al-Mawasi near Khan Younis. Additional shelling and live fire were reported across northern and central Gaza, including near Jabalia refugee camp and the Zeitoun neighbourhood.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided Balata refugee camp east of Nablus, surrounding a home during a pre-dawn operation involving undercover agents, military reinforcements, drones, and heavy gunfire. At least one Palestinian was arrested.
Across the West Bank, Israeli forces detained 18 Palestinians in raids. Since October 2023, Palestinian sources report that at least 1,117 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with approximately 22,000 arrests.
Illegal Israeli settler violence also continued, with Palestinian-owned agricultural structures set ablaze in the Ash-Shamis area northeast of Jerusalem. Rights groups report that such attacks — including arson, vandalism, and assaults — are rarely prosecuted.
Syria: Israeli incursions despite de-escalation mechanism
In southern Syria, dozens of Israeli military vehicles reportedly entered Quneitra province on Wednesday evening, advancing into the Tal al-Ahmar area near Ain Zivan village.
According to Syrian media, around 30 Israeli military vehicles were involved in the incursion, and illumination flares were fired over the area. Earlier that day, Israeli forces reportedly detained a shepherd and confiscated livestock.
These operations come despite a US-supervised contact mechanism announced on January 6 aimed at reducing military escalation between Syria and Israel. Damascus has reaffirmed its commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement, while Israel has stated that it considers the accord void following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.
Syrian officials say the repeated incursions — including detentions, checkpoints, and damage to farmland — are undermining efforts to stabilise the country and rebuild its economy.
[Photo: Palestinian Nasir family break their fast amid the rubble of the Abu Hilwe School in the Bureij Refugee Camp Gaza City, Gaza on February 25, 2026.
Photojournalist: Moiz Salhi/AA]
