Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Thursday, escalating tensions as Lebanese state media reported multiple explosions across mountainous regions near the border. The Israeli military confirmed the operations, saying it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, including a military compound allegedly used for training fighters affiliated with the Iran-backed group.
Despite a ceasefire agreed in November 2024 to end over a year of hostilities, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have continued intermittently. Moreover, Israeli forces have maintained a presence in five southern Lebanese areas, which Israel describes as strategically important for its security.
Read more : Israeli raids threaten Palestinian civil society, says UN
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, the latest strikes hit several remote and elevated locations in both southern and eastern parts of the country. Meanwhile, residents in nearby areas reported loud blasts and heightened military activity, raising concerns about further escalation along the fragile ceasefire line.
In a separate statement, the Israeli military said it also targeted an individual described as a Hezbollah operative in the Taybeh area of southern Lebanon. The army claimed the strikes focused on what it called “terror infrastructure sites” operating across multiple Lebanese regions.
Read more : Palestinian state ‘only’ solution to Israeli conflict, says Pope Leo
These attacks come just ahead of a scheduled meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee, which includes representatives from the United States and France. The committee is expected to review recent developments and assess repeated violations reported since the ceasefire came into effect.
Earlier this week, Israeli strikes killed two people in Lebanon, including one victim located about 30 kilometres south of Beirut. Since the ceasefire began, approximately 340 people have reportedly died in Israeli attacks, based on official Lebanese health data.