The Israeli military on Monday began a series of airstrikes on what it said were Hezbollah and Hamas positions inside Lebanon, following evacuation warnings issued to residents of four villages in the country’s eastern and southern regions.
In a statement, Israel’s armed forces said the strikes targeted infrastructure and operational sites linked to the two militant groups, which Israel accuses of coordinating cross-border attacks. The military did not immediately provide details on the scale of the operation or the extent of damage caused.
The strikes came shortly after Israeli authorities urged civilians in specific Lebanese villages to leave their homes, signaling an imminent escalation. Such warnings are typically issued ahead of planned military action to reduce civilian casualties.
Lebanon’s government has not yet released an official casualty assessment, and there was no immediate response from Hezbollah or Hamas regarding the latest Israeli action. The situation remains fluid, with residents in affected areas reporting heightened military activity and aircraft movements.
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have intensified in recent months amid the wider regional fallout from the Gaza conflict, raising concerns of a broader confrontation involving Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed group with a strong presence in southern Lebanon.
International observers continue to urge restraint, warning that further escalation could destabilize an already fragile region and worsen humanitarian conditions on both sides of the border.
