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, which had begun the previous day, after 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.
The bombardments were accompanied by artillery shelling of several areas, notably 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 the southern part of the 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 the party-militia 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, arguing that the photographs circulated “were not taken” in Arnoun.
Hezbollah also said it fired a rocket salvo at 5:20 a.m. against Israeli soldiers and vehicles near Beit Yahoun, in the Bint Jbeil district. That barrage may have been responsible for projectiles that landed 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.
On Sunday evening, Israel announced its intention to continue its operations “throughout Lebanon” and to “increase 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."
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