(MENAFN) Early Saturday, a deadly series of Israeli airstrikes struck southern Lebanon, leaving one civilian dead and seven others wounded, according to Lebanese and Israeli officials.

Lebanese media reported that at dawn, 10 airstrikes targeted six heavy equipment yards along the Al-Msaylih road. The attacks caused a building to catch fire and destroyed numerous machines.

"The strikes also completely cut off the Al-Msaylih road due to severe damage and led to the death of a civilian and injuries to others who were passing by," the agency confirmed.

The Lebanese Health Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center added that the casualties included a Syrian national killed, one Syrian injured, and six Lebanese wounded, among them two women.

A Lebanese army intelligence source told media that Israeli jets fired roughly 20 air-to-ground missiles, destroying and burning dozens of bulldozers, excavators, industrial and agricultural equipment, as well as repair hangars. The source noted that severe damage also affected nearby civilian buildings.

An Israeli state broadcaster verified the casualties and reported approximately 300 bulldozers were damaged in the strikes.

The Israeli military justified the operation by stating it targeted and dismantled Hezbollah infrastructure, specifically engineering equipment allegedly used to rebuild militant facilities.

"The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel," the military declared.

In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes: "This raises for us, as Lebanese and for the international community, fundamental challenges -- including whether anyone is thinking of compensating for Gaza through Lebanon, to sustain political profiteering through fire and bloodshed."

The attack comes amid a fragile ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and France on November 27, 2024, between Hezbollah and Israel, which largely quelled clashes sparked by the Gaza conflict. Despite the truce, Israel continues occasional strikes against alleged Hezbollah threats in Lebanon while maintaining troops at five key positions along the border.

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