In the early hours of October 30, 2025, the fragile calm along the Israel-Lebanon border was shattered as Israeli forces, backed by drones and light armored vehicles, crossed into the Lebanese border town of Blida. Their target: the municipal government building, a structure that, according to the Israeli military, was suspected of housing Hezbollah infrastructure. The operation, which unfolded over several tense hours, left Ibrahim Salameh, a municipal employee who was sleeping inside, dead—a development that has sent shockwaves through Lebanon’s political and civilian landscape and reignited fears of a wider conflict.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the incursion was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle what they described as "terrorist infrastructure" linked to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia and political party that holds significant sway in southern Lebanon. According to the IDF, troops encountered a "suspect" inside the building and opened fire after identifying what was described as an "immediate threat." Yet, as reported by BBC and corroborated by local sources, no evidence has been provided that the municipal building was being used by Hezbollah. The identity of the "suspect" remains unclear, and it is not known whether Salameh himself was the intended target.
Salameh’s death, confirmed by Lebanon’s Health Ministry, has been described by the National News Agency as a "dangerous and unprecedented attack." Tahsin Kaour, a local official, recounted to AP that Salameh "usually slept in the municipality. He heard a noise outside suddenly and went to the window to see what was going on, and they shot him." Residents reported hearing screams from the building as the raid unfolded, and Israeli forces withdrew from Blida at dawn.
The response from Lebanese officials was swift and severe. President Joseph Aoun issued a public statement condemning the killing and instructed army chief Gen Rodolphe Haykal to "confront any Israeli incursion into Lebanese territory that is not already occupied," as reported by AP and BBC. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the Israeli operation a "flagrant violation of Lebanese institutions and sovereignty," adding, "We continue to exert pressure with the UN and the states sponsoring the ceasefire agreement to ensure that these violations come to an end."
The incursion set off a wave of anger and protest in Blida and nearby towns. By Thursday morning, residents had blocked roads with burning tyres and confronted a convoy of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), demanding greater protection for civilians. The municipality called for a sit-in protest, decrying "the heinous crime" and "the absence and negligence of the Lebanese state in fulfilling its duty to protect its land and people," according to messages circulated on WhatsApp and reported by The National. The Union of Municipal Workers and Employees in south Lebanon described the raid as "an act of organised terrorism aimed at paralysing services, disrupting administrations and creating a state of terror among employees."
UNIFIL, for its part, described the attack and incursion as "a blatant violation" of Lebanon’s sovereignty and of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 to end a monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah. The peacekeeping force expressed "deep concerns" over the incident and faced sharp criticism from local residents who felt abandoned by both the Lebanese army and international monitors.
The Israeli military didn’t stop at Blida. In a separate overnight operation, troops reportedly blew up a hall for religious ceremonies in the neighboring village of Adayse. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes were seen flying over southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, and drones circled low above Beirut’s southern suburbs, adding to the sense of unease in the region, as reported by BBC and AP.
All of this comes despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024 that was meant to halt the last Israel-Hezbollah war. Under the ceasefire agreement, Israeli troops were to withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah was to move its fighters north of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south. Only the Lebanese army and UNIFIL are authorized to operate in the area south of the Litani. However, Israel has maintained a presence at five strategic points along the border, citing ongoing security threats, and has continued near-daily airstrikes on what it says are Hezbollah-linked targets.
As Reuters and AP have noted, ground raids like the one in Blida are rare compared to airstrikes, but the frequency and intensity of Israeli operations in southern and eastern Lebanon have increased in recent weeks. On October 28, 2025, UN Rights Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence stated that Israeli forces had killed 111 civilians in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect on November 27, 2024. The latest incursion and the killing of Salameh have only amplified calls within Lebanon for stronger action to protect civilians and enforce the terms of the ceasefire.
International diplomatic efforts to stabilize the border region continue, but progress is slow. During a recent meeting of ceasefire monitors in Naqoura, attended by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, the United States welcomed Lebanon’s decision to bring all weapons under state control by the end of the year. Ortagus emphasized, "The Lebanese army must now fully implement its plan." Yet, the plan to disarm Hezbollah—a move strongly opposed by the group and its allies—remains deeply contentious. Hezbollah has repeatedly stated it will not disarm while Israeli troops remain in Lebanon, warning that any such move would undermine the country’s defenses.
The implications of the Blida raid ripple far beyond the immediate tragedy. The incident has reignited debate over the effectiveness of international peacekeeping and the Lebanese government’s ability to safeguard its citizens. It has also underscored the precariousness of the current ceasefire, with both sides accusing the other of violations and civilians caught in the crossfire. As one local official put it to AP, "We want the government to protect us, to protect the people, for the Lebanese army to protect us."
With tensions rising and both military and political leaders hardening their positions, the risk of a wider flare-up remains ever-present. For the residents of Blida and the villages along the border, the events of October 30 serve as a stark reminder that, despite diplomatic efforts and ceasefire agreements, peace in southern Lebanon remains elusive and fragile.
