The Israeli Air Force struck targets in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, hitting what it identified as infrastructure for Hezbollah and Hamas. The strikes come just days before Lebanon’s army commander is set to brief the government on progress toward disarming Hezbollah along the southern border.
The military operation began roughly two hours after Israeli Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted warnings on X. The strikes targeted two villages in the eastern Bekaa Valley and two in the south.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, one strike hit a home in the village of Manara. The residence reportedly belonged to Sharhabil al-Sayed, a Hamas commander killed by an Israeli drone in May 2024.
These developments coincide with a scheduled Thursday meeting where the Lebanese government and Army Commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal will discuss the militant group's disarmament. The Lebanese government previously stated that the "South Litani" border region should be cleared of Hezbollah’s armed presence by the end of 2025. Monday’s strikes, however, occurred in villages north of the Litani River, deeper into Lebanese territory.
Efforts to disarm militant factions intensified following a 14-month war that decimated much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership. That conflict, which began in October 2023, ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.
Despite the truce, Israel has conducted near-daily strikes targeting Hezbollah members. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that 127 civilians have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire began. Earlier Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported a drone strike on a car in the village of Braikeh that wounded two people; Israel maintains the target was two Hezbollah operatives.
