KEY POINTS
- Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon
- Lebanon’s health ministry reported one death and one injury in Tyre.
- Hezbollah rejected any political negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
- The US and regional powers are pressuring Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and open dialogue with Israel.
BEIRUT/TEL AVIV: The Israeli military said it launched a series of strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Thursday after issuing evacuation warnings to residents in parts of the area. The move came as Hezbollah rejected any political talks between Lebanon and Israel and reiterated its right to self-defence.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had begun strikes on “Hezbollah military targets” in southern Lebanon and posted evacuation maps for parts of several villages, warning civilians to leave designated areas.
Israeli officials, cited by Al Jazeera, said the strikes targeted what they described as Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives allegedly rebuilding military capabilities.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported strikes near towns in the Tyre district, but initial official reports did not give a full casualty toll.
The strikes follow a pattern of near-daily Israeli actions along the border that Israel says are necessary to remove threats to its territory.
Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike on Wednesday hit a car in the Burj Rahal area of Tyre, killing one person and wounding another.
The strike reportedly occurred close to a school and sparked panic among pupils and parents. Lebanese ambulances rushed the wounded to the hospital, the ministry said.
Residents in southern towns described scenes of fear and disruption. In the Bekaa Valley, which was heavily affected by last year’s wider conflict, locals said repeated strikes had left many communities living in constant anxiety.
Hezbollah rejects negotiations
Earlier today, Hezbollah issued a statement rejecting “any political negotiations” with Israel and said disarmament demands would not serve Lebanon’s national interest.
The Lebanese group reaffirmed “its legitimate right to defend itself against an enemy that imposes war on our country,” sources close to the group’s political leadership said as quoted by AFP.
Hezbollah has repeatedly opposed disarmament plans put forward by Lebanon’s government under international pressure.
The group says it will not surrender weapons while Israeli forces remain in parts of southern Lebanon and continue strikes.
Pressure Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah
The strikes come amid growing pressure from the United States and other regional actors on Lebanon to rein in Hezbollah and open channels of dialogue with Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said negotiations could be necessary to avoid wider conflict, while Israel has warned it may intensify operations if Hezbollah is not disarmed.
A UN-backed mechanism, involving the United States, France and the UN force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), remains the only regular channel for monitoring the ceasefire. But neither Lebanon nor Israel engages in direct bilateral talks.
The November 2024 truce placed obligations on Lebanon’s authorities to ensure disarmament in the south — a pledge that has strained Beirut’s internal politics and fuelled accusations from both sides.
Analysts warn that continued strikes and reciprocal threats risk undoing the fragile calm established by last year’s ceasefire.
Israel says its strikes aim to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming and rebuilding elite units. Hezbollah denies the accusations and has said Israel fabricates pretexts to justify attacks.
