Israel launched a series of intense airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Thursday, claiming the attacks were aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure in the region. The strikes came just hours after the Israeli military issued multiple evacuation orders for residents in several Lebanese border villages.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, one person was killed and another wounded in the latest bombardment, which followed months of tension despite a year-old ceasefire agreement intended to end hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Evacuation Orders Precede Heavy Bombing
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced three simultaneous evacuation alerts on X (formerly Twitter) around 3 p.m., directing civilians to leave areas within Aita al-Jabal, Al-Tayyiba, and Tayr Debba. Two additional orders were later issued for nearby towns, warning residents to maintain a 500-metre distance from targeted zones.
The locations, situated between 4 to 24 kilometers from the Israeli border, were quickly evacuated with the help of Lebanese civil defence teams before airstrikes began an hour later. Massive plumes of smoke were seen rising across the southern horizon as Israeli warplanes struck alleged Hezbollah positions.
Local officials expressed alarm at the escalation. Farid Nahnouh, mayor of Tayr Debba, cautioned, “We are in a very dangerous situation. If things keep heading this way, then all hope is lost.”
Rising Tensions Despite Ceasefire and UN Condemnation
Israel’s government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said the strikes were part of efforts to “defend all borders” and enforce the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon. She asserted that Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rearm or restore its military capacity lost during the 2023–24 war.
Hezbollah, in a statement, maintained its commitment to the ceasefire but insisted on its “legitimate right to resist Israeli aggression.” The group has refrained from direct attacks since the truce came into effect last year, while Lebanon’s army has been working to dismantle non-state weapons depots in the south.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned the airstrikes as a “clear violation” of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for maintaining peace along the Lebanon-Israel border. UNIFIL urged both sides to avoid escalation and prevent a broader conflict.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army denounced the bombings as an attempt to “undermine national stability.” One of the strikes reportedly destroyed an ironworks shop in Abbasiyeh, devastating several local families who depended on the business for their livelihoods.
As tensions mount, fears are growing that the fragile peace between Israel and Hezbollah could unravel, drawing the region closer to another cycle of conflict and humanitarian crisis.
