Reports in Lebanon: IDF struck several locations in the south of the country

Media outlets in Lebanon reported overnight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) on a series of strikes in several locations in the south of the country, including the Ad-Dabsha area in Nabatieh, the village of Al-Qantara, and the outskirts of Sarbin. The Lebanese newspaper "An-Nahar" reported that additional strikes were directed at the outskirts of Kfar Reman, and that explosions were heard in the Al-Khiam area. According to the report, Israeli fighter jets flew at low altitude over areas in southern Lebanon while explosions were heard in several locations.

Shortly before the reports of the strikes, the Kiryat Shmona municipality updated residents that additional military activity by IDF forces was expected in the area, and that as a result, sounds of explosions might be heard.

"This is planned activity by our forces," the municipality stated in an announcement at 22:10.

The municipality emphasized that there are no special instructions for residents and that in the event of a change in the situation, a further update will be provided. The nightly strikes come after military activity throughout the day in the sector. In recent days, there have also been reports in Lebanon of strikes and IDF activity in areas adjacent to Ad-Dabsha, Al-Qantara, and Sarbin.

The strikes come against the backdrop of ongoing tension in southern Lebanon and the confrontation around the Ali Taher ridge, which is considered one of Hezbollah's central strategic hubs in the area. The IDF maintains operational control over large parts of the area and access routes to the organization's fortified underground complex, where, according to estimates in Israel, dozens of Hezbollah operatives and even officers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are trapped. In Israel, they are currently refraining from a decisive move on the complex, partly due to the fear that such a move would lead to an Iranian response and renewed escalation in the region.

A significant escalation was recorded in the sector in the middle of the month after Hezbollah launched an explosive drone at an IDF force operating in southern Lebanon. An officer and two soldiers were seriously wounded then, and in response, the IDF struck a series of the organization's targets in the Nabatieh and Ansar areas. Among others, Ali Samir al-Hajj Hassan, a battalion commander in the Radwan Force, was eliminated, and later a senior commander in Hezbollah's "Badr" unit was also eliminated, who, according to the IDF, was involved in promoting the launch of explosive drones at the forces. That same weekend, authorities in Lebanon reported nine deaths in strikes in the Ali Taher ridge, Ansar, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa areas. The IDF stated that the strikes were carried out in response to Hezbollah's activity against the forces in the area and defined it as a violation of the ceasefire. Since then, Israeli strikes and activity in the area have continued, while Hezbollah, according to estimates, has tried to continue assisting its men in the complex on the ridge, including through drones. The IDF stated this month that during its activity in southern Lebanon, thousands of infrastructures used by Hezbollah were located, including headquarters, stay and observation posts, launchers, underground infrastructure, and weaponry.