The Israeli military carried out a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Thursday, 6 November, after issuing evacuation orders for multiple towns.
Officials in Tel Aviv said the raids were aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure, despite a ceasefire agreement signed a year ago.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, one person was killed earlier in the day and another wounded in subsequent bombings.
The strikes hit residential areas and businesses, including an ironworks shop in Abbasiyeh, which residents said had supported several households.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted evacuation maps on X, instructing residents of Aita al-Jabal, Al-Tayyiba, Tayr Debba, and Zawtar al-Sharqiyah to stay at least 500 metres away from targeted buildings. The warnings were followed within an hour by air raids, sending thick smoke into the sky.
Local officials voiced alarm at the escalation. Farid Nahnouh, mayor of Tayr Debba, warned: “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.”
Israel’s government defended the strikes, with spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian insisting that the country would not allow Hezbollah to rearm.
“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,” she said.
Hezbollah responded by reaffirming its commitment to the truce but maintained its “legitimate right” to resist Israel. The group has not fired on Israel since the ceasefire took effect in November 2024, though it has refused to fully disarm.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned the raids, calling them “clear violations of Security Council resolution 1701.”
UNIFIL urged Israel to halt the attacks and asked Lebanese officials to avoid retaliatory measures that could worsen tensions.
Lebanon’s army also denounced the strikes, describing them as “a continuation of the enemy’s destructive approach aimed at undermining Lebanon’s stability.”
Army commander Rodolphe Haykal briefed the cabinet on ongoing efforts to confiscate Hezbollah arms depots, with officials saying progress was accelerating, and that southern Lebanon could be cleared of unauthorised weapons by year’s end.
The latest escalation has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict along the border. Analysts note that while Israel has frequently targeted Hezbollah-linked sites over the past year, the use of evacuation orders marks a significant shift in tactics, suggesting preparations for broader military operations.
Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Al-Manar TV
