• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun orders the army to confront Israeli incursions after a deadly raid.
• An Israeli military operation in Blida resulted in the death of municipal employee Ibrahim Salameh.
• Aoun's directive marks the first military response since the November 2024 ceasefire went into effect.

On October 30, Israeli troops conducted a military incursion in the southern Lebanese town of Blida, leading to the death of municipal employee Ibrahim Salameh. This operation has prompted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to instruct the Lebanese army to confront any such Israeli incursions into southern territory, marking a significant shift in Lebanon's military posture following the ceasefire that ended hostilities in November 2024. Aoun condemned the raid as part of a **continuous pattern of Israeli aggression**, calling for the international oversight committee to push for adherence to the ceasefire terms, according to Channel News Asia and Anadolu Agency.

The Israeli military stated that their operation aimed at dismantling Hezbollah-related infrastructure within Blida but did not provide evidence linking the specific building to militant activities. During the raid, Israeli forces entered the town hall where Salameh was sleeping, and after encountering what they described as an **immediate threat**, opened fire, leading to his death. This event has intensified tensions, provoking strong responses from both Lebanese officials and the civilian population, with demonstrations taking place in the aftermath to protest the incursion, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

President Aoun's order to engage militarily against Israeli incursions reflects growing frustration within the Lebanese government regarding Israel's ongoing violations of Lebanese sovereignty, particularly following the Israeli military's assertion of rights to operations targeting Hezbollah positions under the guise of civilian infrastructure. Notably, Aoun’s directives have received support from Hezbollah, which called for increased solidarity with the Lebanese army in countering Israeli actions. Hezbollah emphasized the need for a robust political and diplomatic strategy to safeguard Lebanese interests, as reported by Channel News Asia and Anadolu Agency.

In recent months, Israeli air strikes across Lebanon have surged, claiming the lives of thousands and continuously violating the terms of the November ceasefire. Reports indicate that over 4,000 individuals have died, with nearly 17,000 wounded as a result of the escalating violence associated with these incursions, illustrating the increasingly volatile nature of the border situation. Following the directive from President Aoun, Lebanon's military presence in southern regions is expected to be reinforced as the government reassesses its diplomatic and military strategies in light of ongoing threats from Israel, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.