In Maroun al-Ras, residents sat on the ground near a Lebanese army post, raising flags on trees, prompting Israeli forces to fire shots into the air to intimidate them [Getty]
For the second consecutive week, return marches to frontline villages in southern Lebanon continue, with residents rallying to demand their right to return to their homes despite Israeli forces targeting them.
Early on Sunday, Israeli forces abducted fisherman Mohammad Jheir near the buoy line off the coast of Ras Naqoura while he was sailing his boat, taking him toward Israel, according to local media reports.
Israeli troops also threw a stun grenade at a gathering of residents at the northern entrance of Yaroun and opened fire at another group at the entrance of Adaisseh, following the burning of several homes in the town, as well as in Rab Thalathine, local reports said.
In Maroun al-Ras, residents sat on the ground near a Lebanese army post, raising flags on trees, prompting Israeli forces to fire shots into the air to intimidate them.
Meanwhile, from early on Sunday, residents gathered at the western entrances of Meiss al-Jabal and Houla, demanding entry under the protection of the Lebanese army.
Elsewhere, the Lebanese army removed a barrier it had placed at the northern entrance of Kfar Kila near Deir Mimas, allowing residents to pass.
It also permitted the residents of Aitaroun, in the Jbeil district, to re-enter the centre of the town after securing it the previous day, though Israeli forces remain positioned on its eastern and southern outskirts.
Israeli forces opened fire toward Lebanese residents gathered near the western neighbourhood of Houla in Marjeyoun, escalating tensions in southern Lebanon.
Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli military, issued a statement threatening Lebanese residents of the south against returning. He said the occupying forces had redeployed to different locations in south Lebanon, adding that the forces had remained in certain areas to “ensure that Hezbollah cannot rebuild its strength”.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Kassem is expected to deliver a televised speech at 18:30 local time on Sunday, according to a statement by the party.
He is expected to address the latest developments in southern Lebanon and announce a date for the funeral of former secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike on the southern suburb of Beirut in September 2024.
Hezbollah has vowed “a large funeral” in his honour but was yet to announce the date.
