Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon amid reconstruction efforts
Tel Aviv [Israel]: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, responding to what it described as the Iran-backed group’s attempts to rebuild its military infrastructure in the area.
Israel’s Security Cabinet was set to meet at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the escalating situation and Hezbollah’s ongoing reconstruction activities.
Prior to the strikes, the IDF issued warnings to residents in three southern Lebanese villages—Taibeh, Tayr Debba, and Ayta al-Jabal—urging them to evacuate buildings located near Hezbollah facilities. IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee posted maps and messages on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning civilians to stay at least 500 meters away from the targeted sites.
“You are near buildings used by Hezbollah. For your safety, you must evacuate immediately,” Adraee warned. He later clarified that the evacuation advisory applied only to specific marked buildings and their immediate surroundings, denying reports of a broader village evacuation.
Roughly an hour after the warnings, the IDF launched a wave of precision strikes against Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
Earlier in the day, an Israeli drone struck a Hezbollah Construction Unit facility in the Tyre region, reportedly killing one operative and injuring three others. The site, described by local media as an “iron and sawdust factory,” was allegedly being used to manufacture materials for rebuilding previously destroyed military structures.
“The infrastructure was used to produce equipment for restoring facilities that had been destroyed during the war,” the IDF said in a statement. “Such activity violates the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF will continue to act to eliminate threats to Israeli territory.”
Residents in Kiryat Shmona, near Israel’s northern border, were notified about the strikes and warned of potential explosions audible in the Galilee and northern Golan Heights. Authorities said there was no immediate threat to civilians or need for special precautions.
The renewed military activity comes amid heightened tensions over Hezbollah’s weapons program. Earlier Thursday, Hezbollah released a statement opposing ongoing negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel.
Under the ceasefire that took effect on November 27, 2024, Hezbollah is obligated to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, also prohibits Hezbollah’s military presence south of the Litani River.
