Israel launches airstrikes on south Lebanon, accuses Hezbollah of rebuilding military capabilities

The Israeli military carried out heavy airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday after issuing evacuation orders for several areas, accusing Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its military capabilities in the region.

The attacks came despite a ceasefire deal reached a year ago to end prolonged hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group, and followed months of Lebanese army efforts to dismantle Hezbollah positions in the south.

According to a Reuters report, citing the Lebanese Health Ministry, one person was wounded in Thursday afternoon’s bombing, while another was killed in earlier strikes.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced three evacuation orders on X at 3 pm local time (1300 GMT), posting maps of targeted areas in Aita al-Jabal, Al-Tayyiba, and Tayr Debba.

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Two additional orders were later issued for nearby towns. The designated zones were located between 4 km (2.5 miles) and 24 km north of the Israeli border, with residents instructed to stay at least 500 metres (1,650 feet) away. Lebanon’s Civil Defence assisted with the evacuations, added the report, citing the state news agency.

Airstrikes began roughly an hour after the evacuation notices, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.

The escalation has fuelled fears in Lebanon of a possible return to large-scale Israeli bombing, following repeated warnings from Israeli leaders that they would act against Hezbollah if Beirut failed to advance efforts to disarm the group.

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“We are in a very dangerous situation; if things keep heading this way… then all hope is lost. No one knows where the consequences of these matters will lead,” Reuters quoted Farid Nahnouh, mayor of Tayr Debba, as saying.

Israel defends cross-border Strikes

While Israel has conducted frequent strikes on what it claims are Hezbollah military positions in southern Lebanon over the past year, Thursday’s attacks were among the few to be preceded by evacuation orders.

“Israel will continue to defend all of its borders, and we continue also to insist on the full enforcement of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel,” Reuters quoted Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian as telling reporters on Thursday.

Bedrosian said Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rearm or regain the military strength it lost during Israel’s 2023–24 ground and air campaign.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, reiterated that it remains committed to the ceasefire but maintains a “legitimate right” to resist Israel.

The group has refused full disarmament but has not obstructed Lebanese army operations in the south or fired on Israel since the truce took effect last year.

The evacuation warnings came as Lebanon’s cabinet met to hear an update from army commander Rodolphe Haykal on efforts to seize Hezbollah weapons caches in the south.

The army has pledged to clear all non-state weapons from the area by year’s end, with two senior Lebanese security officials telling Reuters earlier Thursday that progress on disarmament was accelerating.

The latest Israeli strikes destroyed an ironworks shop in the southern town of Abbasiyeh.

“This shop was supporting five to six households, overall five to six homes,” Ahmad al-Kayyal, the owner, told Reuters. “Brother, what does a blacksmith do? For heaven’s sake: chairs, tables, doors, windows, railings. What does he make? That’s the blacksmith’s job.”

With inputs from agencies