Israeli Airstrikes Target Hezbollah Sites in Southern Lebanon; IDF Claims Senior Operative Killed

 

Israeli fighter jets conducted a series of airstrikes Thursday in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh region, targeting what the military described as Hezbollah rocket launchers and infrastructure used by the Iran-aligned militant group. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated the operations were part of ongoing efforts to neutralize threats near the border.  

In a separate strike earlier in the day, the IDF said it killed a Hezbollah operative in the border village of Houla, identifying him as a senior engineering specialist responsible for the group’s military activities in the nearby area of Odaisseh. The targeted strikes come amid escalating cross-border hostilities that have persisted despite a fragile truce brokered in November 2023 to halt clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.  

The IDF reiterated that the operations were “defensive measures” against Hezbollah, which it designates a terrorist organization, accusing the group of embedding military assets in civilian areas. Lebanese state media reported explosions in Nabatieh but did not immediately confirm casualties or damage.  

Southern Lebanon has remained a flashpoint since the 2023 ceasefire, with repeated violations by both sides. Thursday’s strikes mark one of the most significant Israeli military actions in the region in recent weeks. Hezbollah has not publicly commented on the alleged operative’s death, in line with its policy of withholding confirmation on members killed in covert operations.  

The IDF emphasized that the targeted infrastructure in Nabatieh included weapons depots and launch sites allegedly used to fire rockets into northern Israel. Residents in Houla reported heavy aerial activity preceding the strike, though no civilian injuries were immediately reported.  

International observers have raised concerns over the risk of renewed conflict, urging restraint from both parties. The Lebanese government condemned the strikes as a “blatant violation of sovereignty,” while Israel maintains it will “continue to act preemptively” against Hezbollah’s entrenchment along the border.