In the early hours of October 11, 2025, the fragile calm along the Lebanon-Israel border was shattered once again. Israeli fighter jets launched a series of intense air strikes on the southern Lebanese village of Msayleh, killing one person and wounding seven others. The strikes, which targeted a site selling heavy machinery and destroyed dozens of vehicles, have reignited concerns about the durability of a ceasefire that many hoped would mark the end of a brutal chapter in the region’s history.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the person killed in the attack was a Syrian citizen. The wounded included another Syrian national and six Lebanese, among them two women. The violence briefly closed the Al-Msayleh road, a key artery linking Beirut with southern Lebanon, as emergency crews worked amid the wreckage of destroyed bulldozers and burned-out vehicles. Local media, including the state-run National News Agency, reported that ten Israeli air strikes targeted six bulldozers on the Al-Msayleh road, leaving a trail of devastation and blocking traffic for hours.
The Israeli military confirmed responsibility for the strikes, stating that they had targeted and “dismantled Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of southern Lebanon, where engineering machinery used to re-establish infrastructure in the area was located.” Israel accuses Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group, of using civilian infrastructure to rebuild its military capabilities after suffering heavy losses in the recent war. The military maintains that the machinery destroyed was intended for reconstructing Hezbollah’s facilities, a claim that has become a familiar refrain in the ongoing tit-for-tat between the two sides.
But for many Lebanese, the attack was a grim reminder of the human cost of this conflict. A vehicle carrying vegetables was caught in the crossfire, killing a passerby and injuring another. According to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, the strikes hit indiscriminately, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The health ministry’s tally—one dead, seven wounded—was echoed by multiple sources, including the National News Agency and international outlets.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was quick to condemn the strikes, describing them as “a heinous Israeli aggression against civilian installations, without justification or pretext.” In a statement carried by local media, Aoun emphasized the gravity of the attack, pointing out that it came “after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.” His words reflected a widespread sentiment in Lebanon, where many see the repeated Israeli strikes as violations of international law and the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire.
That ceasefire, brokered by the United States after more than a year of escalating hostilities, was supposed to bring an end to the bloodshed. The conflict had erupted in October 2023, when Hezbollah began firing rockets across the border in response to a deadly Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel. What followed was a relentless cycle of cross-border attacks, with Israel responding with increasingly forceful shelling and air strikes. By late September 2024, the situation had spiraled into a full-blown war, leaving more than 4,000 people dead in Lebanon—including hundreds of civilians—and causing an estimated $11 billion in destruction, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people were killed, including 80 soldiers. The war also left around 17,000 people injured on both sides, as reported by local and international agencies.
The November ceasefire was hailed as a turning point, with terms calling for Israel to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025. Yet, as of this month, Israel has only partially pulled out, maintaining a military presence at five border outposts. Meanwhile, the strikes have continued almost daily, with dozens of people killed since the ceasefire’s implementation. The Israeli government insists that these operations are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping and rearming, but critics say they undermine the prospects for lasting peace.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk weighed in earlier this month, calling for “renewed efforts to bring a permanent end to hostilities in Lebanon following the war.” Turk’s office has verified 103 civilian deaths in Lebanon since the ceasefire, underscoring the ongoing human toll. “The seriousness of this latest attack lies in the fact that it comes after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” President Aoun noted, echoing concerns about the credibility of international agreements and the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire.
The strikes on Msayleh have also drawn attention to the continued presence of Israeli drones over Beirut and its southern suburbs. According to the state-run National News Agency, drones were reported flying overhead since early Saturday, fueling anxiety among residents and raising questions about the scope of Israel’s surveillance and military operations inside Lebanese territory.
For the residents of Msayleh, the aftermath of the attack was all too familiar: shattered windows, scorched machinery, and the acrid smell of burning vehicles hanging in the air. Crowds gathered at the site, surveying the wreckage and sharing stories of near-misses and narrow escapes. “Once again, southern Lebanon has been the target,” President Aoun lamented, his words resonating with those who have endured years of conflict and uncertainty.
The war’s legacy is visible everywhere in southern Lebanon. The destruction of infrastructure has left many communities struggling to rebuild, while the constant threat of renewed violence hangs over daily life. Despite the ceasefire, the region remains on edge, with both sides accusing each other of violating the terms and preparing for future confrontations. Israel’s insistence on targeting what it calls “Hezbollah infrastructure” has been met with skepticism by Lebanese officials and international observers, who warn that such actions risk reigniting a conflict that neither side can afford.
Meanwhile, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene. Calls for a permanent solution have grown louder, with diplomats urging both Israel and Hezbollah to honor the ceasefire and engage in meaningful dialogue. Yet, as the events of October 11 demonstrate, peace remains elusive. The cycle of violence, retaliation, and political posturing shows no sign of abating, and ordinary people continue to pay the highest price.
As southern Lebanon mourns yet another victim, the world watches anxiously, hoping that renewed diplomatic efforts can finally bring an end to a conflict that has already cost too much. Until then, the scars of war—and the threat of more violence—remain ever-present in the lives of those living along the border.