The Israeli air force launched strikes on multiple locations in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, targeting what it described as infrastructure used by the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas. The military action comes just days before a pivotal meeting of the Lebanese government, where the army commander is due to brief officials on plans to disarm Hezbollah in border regions.
Targeted Strikes and Official Warnings
The attacks followed a public warning issued nearly two hours earlier by Israel's military Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee. On the social media platform X, Adraee stated that the military would strike targets linked to Hezbollah and Hamas in four villages: two in the eastern Bekaa Valley and two in southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency, one of the homes hit in the Bekaa Valley village of Manara belonged to Sharhabil al-Sayed, a Hamas military commander killed in an Israeli drone strike back in May 2024. The agency also reported that an earlier drone strike on a car in the southern village of Braikeh wounded two people. The Israeli military stated this strike targeted two Hezbollah members.
Context of Disarmament and Ongoing Tensions
These latest strikes are set against the backdrop of a long-term Lebanese government initiative to disarm militant factions operating near its border with Israel. The government has stated its aim to clear the south Litani area of Hezbollah's armed presence by the end of 2025. The Lebanese army began the disarmament process for Palestinian groups last year.
A key meeting on this issue is scheduled for Thursday, where army commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal is set to attend. Monday's airstrikes, notably conducted in villages north of the Litani River and far from the immediate border, underscore the persistent volatility in the region.
Legacy of Conflict and Ceasefire Violations
The push for disarmament follows a devastating 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, which began on 8 October 2023, a day after Hamas's attack on southern Israel. The conflict, which saw Hezbollah fire rockets in solidarity with Hamas, culminated in a widespread Israeli bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 and a subsequent ground invasion.
The war formally ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, which severely weakened Hezbollah and resulted in the deaths of much of its political and military leadership. However, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily airstrikes since the ceasefire. According to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, these actions have killed 127 civilians in addition to targeting Hezbollah members.
The ongoing strikes and the imminent disarmament talks highlight the fragile and unresolved security situation along the Israel-Lebanon border, with the potential for further escalation remaining high.
