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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes on Thursday against Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force infrastructure and weapon depots in southern Lebanon, intensifying tensions along the border. The military warned that operations would escalate unless the Iran-backed group was fully disarmed.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, one person was killed and another wounded in the afternoon bombings. Israel had issued evacuation orders ahead of the strikes, urging residents in several southern towns to stay at least 500 meters away from the targeted areas.
The attacks hit sites in Kfar Dounine, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Ayta al-Jabal, Taybeh, and Tayr Debba — towns located between 4 and 24 kilometers from the Israeli border. Lebanon’s civil defense teams assisted residents in evacuating, according to the National News Agency.
An IDF statement said the targeted depots were “embedded within civilian areas,” accusing Hezbollah of using Lebanese civilians as “human shields.” The military stressed that it took steps to minimize civilian casualties by using precision munitions and surveillance.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes as “a despicable crime under international law.” Writing on X, Aoun accused Israel of undermining diplomatic efforts, saying, “Almost a year since the ceasefire, Israel continues its aggression — your message has been received.”
Meanwhile, a senior IDF official told Channel 12 that the strikes were “just a preview” of a broader campaign should Hezbollah remain armed. “If the Lebanese army fails to disarm Hezbollah, Israel, with U.S. backing, will attack targets across Lebanon, including in Beirut,” the official said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened Israel’s security cabinet to discuss Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its military capabilities. According to Channel 12, Israel shared intelligence with the United States and France showing Hezbollah’s rearmament and the Lebanese army’s limited progress in enforcing the ceasefire terms.
The airstrikes coincided with a meeting of Lebanon’s cabinet, where army commander Rodolphe Haykal briefed ministers on disarmament operations in the south. Lebanese security sources told Reuters that troops were “making swifter progress” in dismantling Hezbollah stockpiles, though the process remains incomplete.
In a parallel move, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against three Hezbollah financiers accused of channeling tens of millions of dollars from Iran to Lebanon. The sanctions freeze their assets in the U.S. and criminalize financial transactions involving them.
“Lebanon has an opportunity to be free and secure — but that requires cutting off Hezbollah’s Iranian funding and dismantling its arms,” said U.S. official John Hurley.
Israel’s war with Hezbollah began on October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel. Despite a ceasefire in November 2024, cross-border tensions have persisted, with Hezbollah attempting to rebuild its depleted arsenal. The IDF has warned it will not tolerate renewed threats along its northern frontier.