Civilians and Lebanese Red Cross personnel stand on the rubble of a damaged building while a bulldozer helps search for victims following an Israeli strike on the village of Qennarit in southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. (Credit: Reuters)
SOUTH LEBANON — Israeli attacks continued Wednesday in southern Lebanon, including demolitions, drone strikes, artillery fire and explosions, despite the "agreement" between Lebanon and Israel.
The situation did not see any major escalation, according to our correspondent. However, an Israeli drone strike near the Ghandour Hospital killed two people in Nabatieh Fawqa, shortly before 6 p.m. At the same time, tensions were rising in the Middle East, with American bombings in Iran, the end of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, and Iranian strikes in the Gulf.
The pressure also appeared to be mounting around the strategic heights of Ali Taher, south of the Nabatieh region, where an Israeli flag was raised, as reported on Tuesday. The outskirts of this hill were targeted several times by the Israeli army during the night, notably with artillery fire and, on at least two occasions, with the launching of flares over the area.
In the middle of the afternoon, an Israeli drone strike again targeted Ali Taher, while artillery fire hit the same area, which the Israeli forces are seeking to control. At the end of June, the Israeli army claimed to have encircled a Hezbollah underground complex at Ali Taher, trapping dozens of Shiite militiamen inside. This hill is of both symbolic and strategic importance. Located north of the Litani River, it is considered a key point overlooking much of southeastern Lebanon, including the medieval Beaufort Castle and the nearby valley, the Nabatieh district, the Iqlim Tuffah region, and Jabal Rihan in the Jezzine district.
In Bint Jbeil and Deir Siryan
The Israeli army also carried out a major demolition operation in the town of Bint Jbeil in the morning, after a large explosive operation during the night in Deir Siryan, in the Marjayoun district.
During the day, the Zawtar-Farah intersection, in the Nabatiyeh district, as well as the area between Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal, in the Bint Jbeil district, were targeted by Israeli artillery fire. At the same time, the Israeli army opened machine gun fire toward Haddatha, in the Bint Jbeil district. It also carried out an explosion in Arnoun, in the Nabatiyeh district.
The Israeli army also announced that it had killed, in "face-to-face" combat, a man it identified as a Hezbollah militant, in a building in Bint Jbeil. In a statement, it said the incident took place as soldiers from the "Yiftach" reserve brigade were searching a building in the town "where a clash had occurred last Thursday in which a reservist was seriously wounded." The army had previously said it had not found the shooter. "During these searches, a Hezbollah fighter holed up inside the building opened fire on the soldiers, who immediately returned fire and killed him," the statement added.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the regional war on March 2 in support of Iran, saying it was acting in retaliation for the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed during U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. Israel responded with a massive bombing campaign and a ground offensive, while repeatedly calling for the evacuation of entire sections of southern Lebanon. Israeli operations have killed nearly 4,300 people, according to Beirut.
