Zawtar Gharbieh in July 2026. (Credit: L'Orient-Le Jour/Mohammad Yassin)
SOUTH LEBANON — Israel forces heavily shelled the strategic Ali Taher heights in the Nabatieh district on Friday night and Saturday morning, as Israel appears determined to seize control of the area. In Kfar Shuba, two Israeli Merkava tanks also advanced toward the town's outskirts at dawn. In Zawtar Gharbieh, the Israeli army once again pushed its earth embankment further into the locality, to within about 100 meters of the village square. Our correspondent in the South reported an increase in artillery fire, sweeping operations and explosions across several areas of south Lebanon.
Israeli artillery repeatedly shelled the heights of Ali Taher, firing dozens of shells during the evening. An Israeli helicopter also conducted a machine-gun sweep in the area. An Israeli drone was meanwhile spotted flying at low altitude over Mansouri.
At dawn, an Israeli infantry force accompanied by two Merkava tanks advanced toward the Shammis area on the outskirts of Kfar Shuba. Soldiers conducted search and sweep operations in wooded areas where the Israeli army had started fires two days earlier. Israeli forces also intermittently fired automatic weapons from the Radar site toward the outskirts of Shebaa.
In Zawtar Gharbieh, one of the localities included in the so-called "pilot zones," an Israeli army force advanced again overnight, pushing the earth embankment within the locality's perimeter to about 100 meters from the village square. The Lebanese Army remained positioned at its original site, just a few meters from the new embankment. Israeli aircraft and drones continued to fly over the locality at low altitude.
Israeli forces also shelled several locations in southern Lebanon including Mansouri and the outskirts of Nabatieh Fawqa. In Mansouri, a fire broke out in one of the homes struck. Israeli forces also conducted automatic-weapons sweeps toward Majdal Zoun and Byout al-Siyad (Sour), while Israeli forces also fired machine-gun towards Deir Siryane and Qantara (Marjayoun).
In the Marjayoun district, the Israeli army carried out several blasts. Two successive blasts were reported in Houla, while several houses were destroyed in Mais al-Jabal. Homes were also destroyed in Tallouseh and Qantara. The violence continued at dawn with new artillery fire on the Wadi Hujeir and Mansouri, as well as sweeping fire toward Deir Siryane and Qantara.
Overnight, Israeli forces caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure. The Shaqra municipality reported that a well supplying water to over 17,000 residents sustained severe damage after Israeli forces bombed the building. The municipality says this well is the main water source for the locality and is seeking an alternative solution to maintain water supplies to residents.
According to our correspondent's tally from the previous day, the Israeli army carried out 15 explosions targeting homes and infrastructure in six southern Lebanese localities. Seven of these occurred in Haddatha, two in Houla, and three in Zawtar Sharqieh. Explosions were also reported in Kounin, Taybeh, and Qantara. Israeli forces also set several houses on fire.
