Strikes in South, Hermel; Israeli army says it targeted ‘Hezbollah tunnels’

The Israeli air force carried out strikes Thursday in the Jezzine and Hasbaya districts, as well as in the Hermel region, claiming to be "attacking Hezbollah targets in several areas of Lebanon."

Around 5 p.m., the Israeli army targeted the Mahmoudieh area several times in the Jezzine district, as well as Wadi Borghoz in the Hasbaya district, reported our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

A strike also hit the area between Khallet Khazem and Qatraneh in the Jezzine district.

At the same time, the Israeli air force carried out several raids on the jurd (mountainous lands) of the villages of Shirbin and Zighrin in the Hermel region, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa. It also bombed the hills of Boudai twice.

"The Israeli army is attacking Hezbollah targets in several areas of Lebanon," announced Ella Waouia, the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson, on X.

Waouia was appointed on Tuesday to replace Avichay Adraee in that position.

Hezbollah emerged weakened from a deadly war with Israel that ended in November 2024. Despite a cease-fire, Israel continues its regular strikes on Hezbollah strongholds and fighters, accusing the group of trying to rearm.

After the strikes, the Israeli army stated that it had targeted "tunnels used by Hezbollah to store weapons" in several southern areas of the country. According to the army, "secondary explosions were observed following the strikes, confirming the presence of weapons at the locations."

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the municipality of Rashaya al-Foukhar (Hasbaya district) accused hunters from nearby villages of provoking Israeli artillery fire on its territory by their presence.

In a statement, the municipality said artillery shells had hit, "for the second time in less than a month, vineyards in the locality, damaging a field of solar panels" that powers, among other things, an irrigation network.

It said these bombardments are linked to the presence of hunters from neighboring villages, and accused them of violating hunting bans and municipal decisions by entering the area.

The municipality warned about the security risks posed by these practices, saying they expose Rashaya al-Foukhar and the surrounding villages to Israeli fire as soon as armed men are detected in the sector.

It called on the Lebanese Army and security forces to intercept violators at checkpoints, prevent their access to the locality's wooded areas, and seize their weapons and equipment.