Israeli Military Strikes Hezbollah Positions in Lebanon, Reports Reuters

By Ari Rabinovitch and Maya Gebeily

In a significant escalation, the Israeli military has launched its most extensive air strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah in nearly a year, targeting multiple regions in Lebanon, including the south, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and northern areas near Syria.

When addressed by reporters regarding a potential ground offensive into Lebanon, military spokesman Daniel Hagari stated, "we will do whatever is needed" to ensure the safe return of evacuated residents in northern Israel, emphasizing this as a top priority for the government.

The recent air strikes occurred amid some of the fiercest cross-border fire since the conflict began, continuing alongside the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hagari urged residents in southern Lebanon to steer clear of Hezbollah positions, warning that the group has concealed a significant quantity of weapons, including cruise missiles, within civilian structures in the area.

At a media briefing, he presented an aerial video that allegedly captured Hezbollah operatives attempting to launch cruise missiles from a residential building, with the Israeli strike occurring just before the launch. "Hezbollah is endangering you. Endangering you and your families," Hagari cautioned.

The strikes were initiated following intelligence indicating Hezbollah’s intent to fire on Israel. Israeli aircraft conducted a series of intensive air strikes on towns along Lebanon’s southern border and even further north on Monday morning, as reported by witnesses. In the southern port city of Tyre, sounds of low-flying warplanes and subsequent explosions were heard.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the outskirts of various southern towns and villages, as well as the Bekaa Valley. Footage showed significant smoke rising in these areas. Additionally, airstrikes were reported in the Hermel region of northern Lebanon.

Heavy fire was exchanged between Hezbollah and Israel over the weekend, with the Lebanese militant group firing rockets deep into northern Israeli territory in response to intense bombardment. Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem remarked at a funeral for a commander killed last week that "we have entered a new phase, the title of which is the open-ended battle of reckoning."

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that military operations would persist until it is deemed safe for evacuated residents to return home, indicating that the conflict might extend for a considerable duration, especially as Hezbollah has pledged to continue its fight until a ceasefire is achieved in the concurrent Gaza conflict.

The situation has deteriorated sharply in the past week since Hezbollah opened a second front against Israel in support of the Palestinian cause amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza. In a separate development, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members experienced explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday, an incident largely attributed to Israeli action, though no official confirmation has been issued.