The troops withdrew about two-and-a-half hours later.

The Israeli military confirmed its forces had operated in Blida overnight, saying they opened fire after identifying “an immediate threat” during an operation to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure. The incident was under review, it added.

It was not immediately clear whether Salameh had been deliberately targeted and if so, why he would be.

Aoun condemned the attack as part of a pattern of Israeli aggression and said it was launched shortly after a meeting of the committee monitoring a cessation of hostilities.

He urged the committee to go beyond recording violations and to press Israel to abide by a November 27, 2024 ceasefire agreement and halt its breaches of Lebanese sovereignty.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incursion as “a blatant attack on the institutions and sovereignty of the Lebanese state”.

Lebanon’s army has deployed to the area but did not provide further details. The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said it was seeking more information on the incident.

Israel has continued airstrikes and limited ground operations in Lebanese territory despite the ceasefire agreed nearly a year ago to end fighting with Hezbollah.

Israel says its actions are intended to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military presence in the south, while Lebanon accuses Israel of violating the truce.-Agencies