Israel has carried out a new wave of airstrikes in neighboring Lebanon, targeting what it describes as Hezbollah and Hamas military infrastructure.
The Israeli military says its warplanes struck multiple sites across Lebanon late Monday into Tuesday, including alleged weapons storage facilities and military buildings used by the two Iran-backed groups. In a statement posted on social media, the Israel Defense Forces said the strikes hit both above-ground and underground locations that were being used, quote, “to advance terror plots against Israeli forces and the State of Israel.”
According to the IDF, some of the targets were also used to help Hezbollah rebuild its operational capabilities following months of fighting. Israeli officials added that additional strikes targeted sites in southern Lebanon believed to be involved in weapons production for Hamas.
The Israeli military acknowledged that several of the locations were situated within civilian areas, accusing Hezbollah and Hamas of deliberately operating among the local population. The IDF described this as the “cynical use of Lebanese civilians as human shields for terror activities.”
Israeli officials say steps were taken to reduce the risk to civilians. Ahead of the strikes, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued evacuation warnings on social media, urging residents in parts of Kfar Hatta and Ain Al-Tinah in southern Lebanon to leave areas near specific buildings.
In one warning, Adraee told residents they were located near facilities used by Hezbollah and instructed them to evacuate immediately and remain at least 300 meters away, cautioning that staying near the marked sites put their lives in danger.
The Israeli military said the presence and activity of armed groups at these locations violate existing understandings between Israel and Lebanon and pose what it called a direct threat to Israel’s security.
The latest strikes come against the backdrop of a wider regional conflict that began on October 7th, 2023, when war erupted between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah entered the conflict the following day, opening a second front along Israel’s northern border.
Major fighting between Israel and Hezbollah largely paused in November 2024 under a ceasefire brokered by then-U.S. President Joe Biden. A separate, fragile U.S.-mediated ceasefire brought fighting in Gaza to a halt in January.
However, despite those agreements, Israel has continued to carry out targeted military operations, saying it is acting against what it views as ongoing threats from Hamas and Hezbollah in both Lebanon and Gaza.
There has been no immediate response from Hezbollah or Hamas regarding the latest Israeli strikes, and the situation on the ground remains tense.
We will continue to monitor developments and bring you updates as they come in.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
