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Beirut, Lebanon: In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a wave of simultaneous airstrikes on Tuesday afternoon, targeting 20 Hezbollah sites in the terror group’s stronghold in southern Beirut.
The strikes, which marked a significant escalation, came shortly before the Israeli security cabinet convened to approve a ceasefire agreement aimed at halting the fighting in Lebanon.
The airstrikes, carried out by eight Israeli fighter jets, hit various Hezbollah-controlled locations within Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area long known as a Hezbollah stronghold.
Among the targeted sites were seven buildings used by the group to manage and store funds, including Hezbollah’s quasi-bank, the Al-Qard al-Hasan association.
The remaining sites included an aerial forces center, weapon depots, and intelligence command rooms. The IDF released dramatic footage showing the destruction caused by the airstrikes, which were executed with remarkable precision.
Swift and Targeted Strikes
The Israeli airstrikes came after the IDF issued a rare and broad evacuation warning for 20 buildings in southern Beirut, signaling the imminent threat to Hezbollah infrastructure.
The military’s warning was followed by a swift assault, with all 20 sites being struck within just two minutes of the evacuation order.
The IDF emphasized that the targets were chosen carefully to disrupt Hezbollah’s operations while minimizing civilian casualties.
According to IDF spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, the operation was part of a broader strategy to undermine the financial network supporting Hezbollah’s military activities, which are heavily funded by Iranian sources.
“These assets, stored under the guise of a civilian association, support Hezbollah’s operations, from weapon storage to paying wages for its operatives,” Adraee stated in a press briefing.
A Broader Strategic Offensive
The series of airstrikes was part of a broader offensive strategy approved earlier on Tuesday by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Katz met with Israel’s top military officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other high-ranking officers, to assess the situation on the northern front and approve the continuation of military operations.
The meeting focused on assessing the ongoing conflict and coordinating further military actions, which have become increasingly intense in recent weeks.
Lebanese media reported an additional airstrike outside of the Hezbollah-controlled areas of southern Beirut, which targeted an individual in what appeared to be an attempted assassination, rather than a strategic military target.
This strike added a layer of complexity to the day’s military operations, suggesting that Israel might be intensifying its efforts to eliminate key Hezbollah leaders.
The Litani River Offensive: A First in 24 Years
In a significant development on the battlefield, IDF forces reached the Litani River, a crucial geographical landmark in southern Lebanon, marking the first time in 24 years that Israeli soldiers have advanced to this area.
The Litani River, which lies just a few kilometers from the Israeli border, has long been a strategic point of contention between Israel and Hezbollah.
The IDF’s 91st Division, which has been engaged in operations in the region, successfully reached the river, identifying and seizing numerous Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure in the area.
Israeli forces also advanced to the Wadi Saluki area, which lies only about 10 kilometers from the border, and discovered additional Hezbollah weapon caches and fortified positions.
Troops from the IDF’s Commando Brigade led raids on Hezbollah sites in both areas, uncovering weapons depots, primed rocket launchers, and hidden bunkers.
The IDF claimed to have destroyed dozens of rockets and missile storage facilities, further degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities in the region.
Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, the head of Israel’s Northern Command, visited the Litani River area to oversee the operation and assess the strategic impact of the military advances.
The operation has been seen as a significant achievement for the IDF, marking a bold step forward in its offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah Leadership Targets
In a related development, Israel’s airstrikes targeted key Hezbollah commanders on Tuesday. The IDF confirmed that two high-ranking Hezbollah figures were killed in separate airstrikes: one in Tyre, a coastal city in southern Lebanon, and the other in a still unspecified area.
Ahmed Subhi Hazima, the head of operations for Hezbollah’s coastal region, was killed in Tyre. Hazima had taken over the role following the death of his predecessor in an earlier Israeli airstrike.
Hazima had been responsible for orchestrating several attacks against Israel from southern Lebanon, including anti-tank missile strikes and infiltration attempts. The IDF described his death as a significant blow to Hezbollah’s operations along the Lebanese coast.
The second airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah field commander in southern Lebanon. The IDF did not release the name of the commander but confirmed that he was a key figure in Hezbollah’s southern operations.
The IDF reported that this strike, like the others, was aimed at weakening the terror group’s leadership and operational capacity.
Tensions on the Northern Border
As Israeli forces continued their air campaign and ground operations, Hezbollah fired several rockets at northern Israel on Tuesday, including a barrage of five rockets aimed at Haifa.
The IDF reported that the rockets were intercepted by the country’s missile defense system, Iron Dome, preventing casualties. These rocket attacks are part of Hezbollah’s ongoing retaliation against Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.
In addition to the rocket barrage, an IDF soldier was seriously injured in a drone attack launched from Lebanon. The soldier, who was stationed in the Mount Hermon area, was wounded by an explosion caused by a drone fired from Hezbollah-controlled territory.
The IDF is investigating the attack, which further escalates the tension along the northern border.
The IDF also reported that a home in Kiryat Shmona, a border town in northern Israel, sustained significant damage after being struck by a rocket from Lebanon. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in this incident.
A Ceasefire in the Works?
Despite the intense military activity, Israeli officials have indicated that a ceasefire deal could soon be reached.
The Israeli security cabinet is set to approve a two-month ceasefire agreement, which would halt the fighting along the northern front and lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
Under the proposed agreement, Hezbollah would also be required to cease its armed presence south of the Litani River.
The ceasefire deal would mark a temporary halt to the conflict that has seen thousands of rockets fired across the border, as well as the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians on both sides.
However, it remains to be seen whether the ceasefire will hold, given the deep animosities and longstanding tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Continued Strikes on Hezbollah Assets
Throughout Tuesday, the IDF continued to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. In the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, the IDF conducted multiple airstrikes against Hezbollah’s weapons depots, destroying anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft systems, and other military equipment.
The IDF has claimed to have struck approximately 330 Hezbollah sites in the southern suburbs of Beirut since the beginning of the current conflict.
By comparison, during the 2006 Lebanon War, only around 140 Hezbollah sites were struck. This highlights the intensity of the current conflict and Israel’s commitment to dismantling Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon.
Conclusion
As Israel presses on with its military campaign against Hezbollah, the conflict shows no signs of abating. While both sides continue to suffer casualties, the proposed ceasefire may offer a temporary respite.
However, the underlying tensions that have fueled the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah for decades remain unresolved, and it is uncertain how long the ceasefire will last.
For now, the Israeli military is focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, while the international community watches closely for any signs of a more lasting peace agreement.
As the conflict in Lebanon enters its second month, the situation remains fluid, with both military and diplomatic efforts continuing to evolve.