Israeli military aircraft conducted strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting what it described as Hezbollah military sites. The operations focused on areas in the southern Nabatieh region, with local reports indicating ongoing drone surveillance following the attacks.
The Israeli military stated the strikes hit launch positions and other infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, asserting the group’s armed presence in the area breaches prior agreements. These latest actions occur against the backdrop of a diplomatic deadline, set for the end of the year, for the Lebanese state to disarm Hezbollah forces south of the Litani River.
While a ceasefire has been nominally in place for over a year, hostilities have persisted. Independent conflict monitors report that Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory have continued at a regular pace since the truce began. In recent weeks, Israeli officials have intensified their warnings regarding the disarmament timeline.
Under a internationally-backed plan, the Lebanese Armed Forces are tasked with removing Hezbollah’s weaponry and personnel from the border zone. Lebanese authorities state they are nearing completion of this process and regularly announce the destruction of old weapon caches. They accuse Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire.
Israeli officials have dismissed these claims, arguing that Hezbollah is actively reconstituting its forces along the border. Tensions were further inflamed earlier this week by a drone strike north of the Litani River that killed three individuals in a vehicle. Israel alleged one of the deceased, a Lebanese army warrant officer, was a Hezbollah operative involved in attack planning—a claim strenuously denied by both the Lebanese military and Hezbollah.
Diplomatic channels remain open alongside the military actions, with Israeli and Lebanese delegations continuing to meet. A recent session included civilian representatives, a move that provoked political controversy within Lebanon. Israel maintains that its diplomatic engagement with the Lebanese state is distinct from its military operations targeting Hezbollah.
The Lebanese government has repeatedly called for international intervention to halt what it terms violations of its sovereignty, as the year-end deadline approaches.
