On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of coordinated strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. According to Israeli sources, the strikes targeted weapons depots, command centers, and communication systems used by militants to coordinate their activities along the border area.
Before the operation began, the IDF issued warnings urging residents of several towns to leave areas that could come under fire. The Israeli military emphasized that its actions were aimed solely at military targets but did not rule out the possibility of expanding the operation if provocations from Hezbollah continued.
West Jerusalem accuses Hezbollah of violating ceasefire terms and attempting to rebuild its military capabilities.
Just days earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hezbollah was taking steps to regroup and strengthen its positions, posing a threat to Israel’s national security. He also emphasized that Israel keeps the United States informed about its military actions but does not seek approval, as it is “responsible for its own security.”
The escalation of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah may signal the start of a larger operation aimed at completely dismantling the group’s capabilities and curtailing Iranian influence in the border areas. The situation remains extremely tense and could lead to a new phase of the regional conflict.
Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached in November 2024 and facilitated by the US and France, the situation in southern Lebanon remains precarious. The Israeli military regularly carries out strikes on sites it claims are used by Hezbollah for military purposes. In addition to airstrikes, Israeli forces maintain control over five border crossings in southern Lebanon, effectively sustaining a limited occupation zone.
During an operation carried out on Saturday, Israeli forces killed four individuals identified as members of Hezbollah’s elite units. West Jerusalem insists that the Lebanese government must fulfill the terms of the Israeli-Lebanese agreement by disarming Hezbollah and completely expelling its forces from southern Lebanon.
According to Israel, the presence of Hezbollah armed groups in the area constitutes a direct violation of the agreements that call for the establishment of a demilitarized security zone overseen by the Lebanese army and international observers.
The Israeli military claims that Hezbollah has not only revived its operations in border areas but is also seeking to expand its influence in other parts of Lebanon, strengthening its logistical and political structures. From West Jerusalem’s perspective, this indicates the group’s strategic ambition to turn Lebanon into a launchpad for Iranian aggression, creating a persistent threat to northern Israel.
Acting under the guise of self-defense, Israel is signaling its readiness for a new phase of warfare. Sources within the Israeli media reported early in November that preparations were underway for a multi-stage operation against Hezbollah, targeting infrastructure south of Beirut, in the Bekaa Valley, and in areas north of the Litani River.
Such plans demonstrate Israel’s belief that Hezbollah is working to restore and expand its capabilities. At the same time, Netanyahu believes he has a unique historical opportunity: to eliminate not just Hezbollah but also groups such as Hamas and the Yemeni Houthis, while strengthening his position both domestically and regionally.
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