Lebanese media reported at least 10 people killed overnight in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon as the IDF weighs how to complete the destruction of remaining Hezbollah infrastructure on the strategic Ali Taher Ridge.
The escalation comes after Hezbollah terrorists launched two explosive drones toward IDF forces controlling the security zone in southern Lebanon. One of the drones was intercepted by Israeli troops, and no Israeli forces were injured.
The IDF described the launches as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and responded with a broad wave of strikes in the Nabatieh area and elsewhere in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapons depots and military buildings.
Lebanese reports said one of the targets was a three-story building in the village of Roumine in the Nabatieh area. According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen network, nine people were killed in the strike, which it described as a “massacre.”
Reports also said a vehicle was struck in Roumine, killing one of its occupants.
According to the IDF, one of the targets was an active Hezbollah command center established inside a building that had previously served as a hospital. The military said terrorists had recently operated from the site to advance attack plans, conduct surveillance and direct artillery fire.
The IDF said precautions were taken before the strikes to reduce harm to civilians, including an urgent evacuation warning issued to residents of the village of Arab Salim, who were instructed to move around 300 meters away from the targeted facility.
The military also issued an Arabic-language evacuation warning to residents of Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh area.
“Following the blatant violation of the ceasefire, after Hezbollah launched a drone toward IDF forces, we are being forced to respond,” the military said. “Civilians in the area must evacuate immediately.”
The latest strikes come as Israel prepares for a decision on the next phase of operations at Ali Taher Ridge.
After IDF commandos and the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, operating under the 36th Division, completed the clearing of the ridge, the military is now determined to completely eliminate the remaining Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the strategic area.
Israel’s security establishment is expected to decide in the coming days how to carry out the destruction phase in the most effective way.
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