Israeli military actions have led to the cessation of electricity and water supplies to a large portion of the population in the Marjayoun area and its surroundings in southern Lebanon.
This move comes after Israeli forces bombarded the Marjayoun power distribution station, which also serves water pumping stations, marking the first such incident since hostilities began.
The ongoing exchange of gunfire with Hezbollah and Israeli military preparations for combat in Lebanon, including the training of reserve forces, continue to escalate tensions.
The Israeli bombardment severely damaged the electricity distribution station in the Marjayoun plains, impacting several towns in the Marjayoun district, including Marjayoun City, Khiam, and the surrounding villages, as well as water pumping stations like the Wazzani station.
Field reports from Marjayoun indicate that out of 15 artillery shells fired at the station, 12 exploded, causing substantial damage to critical infrastructure such as main transformers, resulting in significant oil leaks.
Sources report a complete blackout across the region and a disruption in water supplies. Prior to the attack, the area received approximately four hours of electricity daily, now relying solely on backup power in Marjayoun and surrounding areas.
Lebanon’s Electricité du Liban (EDL) confirmed that “in the latest series of attacks by the Israeli enemy on our facilities, the Marjayoun station was targeted with artillery shells, causing severe damage to transformers, cells, high-voltage networks, and leading to their suspension from service.”
The institution is currently assessing the technical and operational status of the station to determine the necessary actions.
Of particular concern is that this attack marks the first time Israeli forces have targeted a deep area near presumed safe zones hosting displaced persons, such as Marjayoun City and the town of Debel near the power station.
This has heightened anxiety among residents and displaced individuals, as previous attacks had primarily targeted the Khiam plains, approximately 5 kilometers away, which are agricultural areas devoid of population.
These hostilities coincide with ongoing exchanges of gunfire. The Israeli military reported bombing Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in Ramiya, southern Lebanon, and intercepted a suspicious aerial target from Lebanon following morning alarms in the north, amid fears of a drone infiltration.
In response, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli military positions near Haddad Yarin with rocket artillery.
They also announced conducting an aerial attack with drones on the headquarters of the newly established 91st Brigade in Eilat, resulting in confirmed injuries, in retaliation for an Israeli attack in Arnoun. They further claimed responsibility for another attack on Israeli soldiers near the site of Royce Al-Alam in the occupied Lebanese hills with a volcano missile.
Meanwhile, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that reserve forces in the north had undergone training.
He noted that the Northern Region Command continued to enhance readiness and prepare forces on the northern front, with recent exercises focusing on mobility in rugged terrain, advancing in mountainous axes, activating firing means, and gathering intelligence.
Additionally, this week saw a surprise exercise for the 920th Reserve Battalion of Brigade 769, aimed at enhancing readiness for various combat scenarios to protect northern towns and engage the enemy.
