An Israeli strike on the locality of Kfar Tibnit, in the Nabatieh district, on June 8, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT— Although the Israeli army announced on Monday afternoon that it was halting its attacks against Iran, following less than 24 hours of clashes between the two countries, it nevertheless pledged to strike southern Lebanon “intensely.”
It later followed through on that threat, after several hours of a relative slowdown in its strikes.
A series of strikes hit several areas of southern Lebanon on Monday, targeting in quick succession the immediate outskirts of Sour at Burj al-Shemali, Hosh and Maashouq, as well as Zrarieh, Khreibeh and Khirbet al-Doueir, killing one person in Khreibeh, according to our correspondent in the South.
Three killed in drone strike in Sour
Late in the afternoon, two Israeli drone strikes on a vehicle traveling in the city of Sour killed three people. The attack, which took place near a Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) centre, also injured four of the organization’s paramedics, who were hit by shards of glass. Suffering light to moderate injuries, they were transferred to Jabal Amel Hospital for treatment, according to an LRC statement.
Shortly afterwards, the Israeli army issued a new evacuation order for residents of the Zoqaq al-Mafdi area on the outskirts of Sour, saying it would “act forcefully against Hezbollah” in the sector.
The bombardments were accompanied by artillery shelling of several areas, including in the Nabatieh district, where Israeli forces are seeking to continue their advance after capturing Beaufort Castle more than a week ago, as well as in the Jezzine district. Throughout the day, Israeli attacks were reported across several parts of the South, though at a less intense pace than in recent days.
For its part, Hezbollah claimed several operations against Israeli positions, mainly in southern Nabatieh district, around the occupied medieval fortress and in Yohmor al-Shaqif, where it said it targeted several ammunition transport vehicles.
Against the backdrop of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in the area, and following allegations that a Hezbollah tunnel lies beneath the historic site, Arnoun mayor Fawaz Qatibi said he feared the Israeli army could use that claim as a pretext to blow up the castle, saying that the photographs circulated “were not taken” in Arnoun.
Hezbollah also said it fired a rocket salvo at 5:20 a.m. at Israeli soldiers and vehicles near Beit Yahoun, in the Bint Jbeil district. That barrage may have been responsible for projectiles landing in the neighboring village of Ain Ibl. Eight rockets fired from Lebanon, allegedly by Hezbollah, landed in the still-inhabited Christian border village, deputy municipal council head Tony Farah and another resident told L’Orient-Le Jour.
Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 3,637 people and injured 11,188 since March 2. Today alone, Israeli strikes killed 24 and wounded 116.
While Hezbollah did not claim any attacks on northern Israel during the day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in the evening that any attack on towns in northern Israel would be followed by strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“The fate of the southern suburbs is the same as that of the northern towns,” he said, adding that the Israeli army would continue its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, said that Iran and Hezbollah were “weaker than ever” and that the war against them was “not yet over,” accusing them of attempting to impose a “new equation” over the past 24 hours, and saying Israel would not allow either Lebanon or Iran to attack it without facing consequences.
On Sunday evening, Israel announced its intention to continue its operations “throughout Lebanon” and to “intensifying pressure” on Hezbollah, following Iranian missile fire on Israel in response to an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs that killed two people.
"We struck [the southern suburb of Beirut] in response to Hezbollah's incessant fire on northern communities" in Israel, said Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin. The army "will continue its operations throughout Lebanon and intensify its strikes against the terrorist organization Hezbollah," he added. "We will not allow further fire targeting Israeli citizens." According to Israel's Channel 12, citing a military official, the Israeli army will conduct "intense" bombardments in southern Lebanon "over the coming days."
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil