Israeli army steps up strikes on the South and Bekaa, leaving two dead

The Israeli army intensified its operations on Saturday in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, carrying out multiple strikes, including in the Jezzine district, and killing two people.

Shortly after 8 a.m., an Israeli drone targeted a car between the villages of Nabatieh Fawqa and Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh) in southern Lebanon, killing the driver. According to our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah, the victim was Kamel Karnabech. Another drone strike on a vehicle in Wadi Nahleh, between the villages of Shaqra and Majdal Selm (Bint Jbeil), also killed one person.

In just half an hour on Saturday afternoon, the Israeli air force fired 15 missiles in 10 strikes on the villages of Mahmoudieh, Tilal Jarmaq, and Mount Rafi on the heights of Tilal Sujud, as well as the Jabbour hills, all in the Jezzine district. Agricultural fields near Kfar Hamam in the Hasbaya district, as well as the villages of Jabal al-Rihan and Mahmoudieh (Jezzine), were also bombed.

Israeli warplanes also struck the Bayader area on the heights of Kfar Hamam (Hasbaya) for the first time since the cease-fire. The remains of a previously downed Israeli drone were found in an agricultural field near the main Taybeh-Qantara road (Marjeyoun).

In the Bekaa, Israeli strikes on Shmustar reportedly left several people injured, according to our correspondent Sarah Abdallah.

Attack on ‘rocket launchers’

Commenting on the strikes, the Israeli army said it “carried out an attack on rocket launchers belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which had been recently identified and installed at military sites in southern Lebanon,” according to the army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee. “During another strike in the Bekaa, the Israeli army targeted two Hezbollah military sites where terrorist activity was detected, as well as weapons depots and other military buildings,” he added.

The Israeli army also stated that it killed a Hezbollah fighter on Friday in a strike on the town of Froun (Bint Jbeil) in southern Lebanon, accusing him of conducting attacks against Israel. “Throughout the conflict, this terrorist carried out terrorist attacks against Israeli troops,” it said, adding: “His activities violated the agreements between Israel and Lebanon.” Hezbollah had claimed on Friday evening the death of one of its fighters, Ahmad Mohammad Ramadan.

Israel has recently stepped up its strikes in southern Lebanon, claiming it is targeting Hezbollah, which it accuses of rearming in violation of a cease-fire that took effect in November 2024. Lebanese authorities regularly accuse Israel of violating the cease-fire by continuing its strikes and occupying five strategic points in the south. According to the Ministry of Health, more than 330 people have been killed and 945 injured since the cease-fire.

L'armée israélienne multiplie ses frappes sur le Sud et la Békaa, faisant deux tués