The Israeli military on Friday blamed the Lebanese government for recent developments in southern Lebanon, citing its failure to seize Hezbollah’s heavy weaponry and rocket arsenal as a key factor behind rising tensions.

In a statement posted on X, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the army holds “the Lebanese government responsible for what is taking place within its territory, due to its failure to seize Hezbollah’s heavy weaponry and rocket arsenal.”

His comments came after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted a Hezbollah site in southern Lebanon used, according to the Israeli military, for managing fire and defense systems. Lebanese media later reported that a nearby residential building had been hit and that casualties were reported.

Adraee denied the military had struck any civilian structures.

“The Israeli army did not target any civilian building,” he said. “According to the information we have, the building was struck by a rocket-propelled munition that was stored inside the Hezbollah site and detonated as a result of the airstrike.”

He went on to accuse Hezbollah of endangering civilians by storing weapons close to residential areas.

“Hezbollah continues to store its aggressive rocket munitions near residential buildings and among the population of Lebanon, thereby putting civilians at risk,” he said.

“Hezbollah is risking the lives of southern Lebanon’s residents by refusing to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese state,” Adraee added.

He concluded by warning that “the Israeli military will continue to act to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel.”