Israel escalates strikes in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah weakens
Lebanese army updates on Hezbollah weapons control as cross-border dialogue begins with Israel
BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) – Israel conducted multiple airstrikes on southern Lebanese towns, targeting locations it described as Hezbollah military sites, while Lebanon’s army reported progress in securing weapons south of the Litani River, rendering Hezbollah weakened.
The strikes hit Mahrouna, Al-Majadel, Jbaa, and Baraachit after Israeli authorities issued evacuation warnings to residents.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated the operations aimed to disrupt Hezbollah’s alleged attempts to rebuild its military infrastructure.
Some local residents reported receiving phone calls from individuals claiming to represent Israeli forces, warning them to evacuate civilian areas.
The attacks coincided with a Lebanese Cabinet meeting attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun, as well as the latest briefing by Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, on the army’s third progress report.
The report detailed ongoing efforts to confiscate Hezbollah weapons south of the Litani and outlined preparations for operations north of the river in early 2026.
According to the army, over 10,000 soldiers are deployed south of the Litani across 200 points, alongside 11 border positions, while Israel continues to occupy five strategic locations and two isolated points.
Army operations included more than 11,000 joint missions with UNIFIL, 30,000 individual military missions, the clearance of 177 tunnels, closure of 11 crossings, and the seizure of hundreds of rockets and other weapons.
The report emphasized that Israeli claims of Hezbollah rearming south of the Litani are unsubstantiated.
UNIFIL forces are gradually withdrawing, with 640 personnel already redeployed, and the Lebanese army is preparing to take over 90 sites previously held by the peacekeepers.
Sensitive Palestinian camps such as Rashidieh and Baddawi remain under strict monitoring, with weapons retained only under official control.
Diplomatic momentum followed with the first direct Israel-Lebanon civilian dialogue in over four decades at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura.
The meeting was attended by Lebanese envoy Simon Karam, Israeli National Security Council senior director Uri Resnick, and U.S. special envoy Morgan Ortagus.
U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa praised the step as “courageous” and highlighted the importance of dialogue, compromise, and principled leadership to achieve long-term stability.
Lebanese politicians, including Kataeb Party head Sami Gemayel, underscored the need for firm national positions in negotiations, emphasizing that Hezbollah should not dominate the process or speak on behalf of Lebanon’s Shiite community.
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