More than a dozen Israeli airstrikes struck hilltops in southern Lebanon on Friday, escalating tensions along the volatile Lebanon-Israel border. According to Lebanese security sources, the strikes targeted a mountainous area near the city of Nabatieh, a known stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite militant group.
The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating that fighter jets had bombed a site used to manage Hezbollah’s “fire and defence system.” Israel alleged the location had previously been destroyed during last year’s conflict but claimed Hezbollah was attempting to rebuild and resume military operations there an action it says violates the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in November 2023.
Lebanese sources indicated that the targeted area likely housed arms depots, though Hezbollah has not issued an official statement regarding the strikes. Residents in the region reported loud explosions and rising smoke, though no casualties were immediately confirmed.
In response to the strikes, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire terms. “Israel continues to violate Lebanese sovereignty and the spirit of the ceasefire,” Aoun said in a televised address. He reiterated that the deal prohibits all armed non-state actors in southern Lebanon, mandates the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, and requires an end to all cross-border hostilities.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces reportedly remain in at least five positions within Lebanon, and airstrikes against Hezbollah personnel and infrastructure continue. Israel maintains that these actions are preemptive and necessary to prevent Hezbollah from regaining operational capacity in the border region.
The flare-up marks one of the most intense Israeli air campaigns in southern Lebanon since the November truce and comes amid broader regional instability. International observers have raised concerns that the escalation could unravel the fragile peace, especially with Hezbollah’s silence suggesting possible retaliation.
Efforts by the United States and United Nations to uphold the ceasefire and de-escalate the situation have so far yielded limited results, as both sides continue to trade blame for violations. The situation remains tense, with fears of renewed large-scale conflict looming over the region.
