Smoke rises from houses targeted by Israeli tank shells in the neighboring village of Mais al-Jabal, on Aug. 21, 2026. (Credit: Ammar Ammar / AFP)
The Israeli stranglehold tightened Saturday around Ali Taher in southern Lebanon, a hill that has come under heavy shelling for several weeks. Lebanon fears Israeli forces could capture the area, giving them control over access to the Nabatieh region and the eastern sector.
According to our southern Lebanon correspondent, Israeli forces carried out an unusually high number of airstrikes on Ali Taher and repeatedly dropped explosive barrels from drones. However, ‘’the nature of the targets struck in the sector remains uncertain and is purely speculative.’’ He said some operations could be linked to attempts to fill in or destroy tunnel entrances.
Over the past several months, Israeli drone strikes have repeatedly targeted Hezbollah movements that the Israeli army considers potential threats. ‘’These strikes have particularly targeted vehicles approaching Ali Taher or traveling nearby, whether passing through Dohat Kfar Rummane or the al-Dabche hill, which geographically extends from Ali Taher. These strikes have even occasionally hit the al-Deir convent neighborhood in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, which forms an extension of the southwestern flank of the Ali Taher woods,’’ our correspondent said. ‘’No clear attempt at an Israeli advance toward the hill has been observed, however,’’ he added.
The area had previously seen limited maneuvers and ground movements, including operations near the Ali Taher woods on the Kfar Tebnit side, southeast of the hills. Some Israeli reports subsequently said Hezbollah had attacked Israeli vehicles using drones. According to Israeli accounts, these maneuvers appeared to prompt a response. However, the situation on the ground remains unclear due to the lack of any announcement from Hezbollah and the absence of confirmed information from Lebanese sources about what actually took place in this sensitive area, our correspondent said.
Bombardment of the Nabatieh sector
It was in this context that Israeli aircraft and artillery bombarded Ali Taher and villages in the Nabatieh region Saturday. In the afternoon, an explosion shook Zawtar al-Sharqieh another struck Yohmor al-Shaqif and a third hit the Ali Taher woods. Earlier in the day, Israeli forces demolished homes in Kfar Tebnit and Arnoun in the same district.
The Israeli army also fired heavily with medium-caliber automatic weapons toward Zawtar al-Sharqieh, Haddatha and Bani Hayyan, while Israeli military vehicles were observed moving inside the latter locality. Two airstrikes also targeted the area around Dohat Kfar Remmane and the heights of Ali Taher.
’Suspicious’ movements in Srebbine
Other districts also came under Israeli attack. In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli forces repeatedly shelled Srebbine. Saturday afternoon, a missile fired from a fighter jet struck its valley, and Israeli forces demolished two houses. The village, which is occupied by the Israeli army, frequently comes under shelling, particularly on its outskirts.
According to our correspondent, the Israeli army may have detected movements there that it considered suspicious. Earlier in the morning, a drone fired on the area, injuring one person who was immediately evacuated by rescuers.
In the late afternoon, the Israeli army set fire to homes in Beit Yahoun and Kounine, in the occupied zone. Automatic weapons fire was heard from Beit Yahoun toward Baraasheet. A tank and a bulldozer also operated in the same sector. Finally, an Israeli drone dropped a flash grenade on Hadatha.
Sour and Marjayoun under Israeli fire
The Sour and Marjayoun districts also came under Israeli bombardment and faced destruction.
In Sour, drones dropped explosives and flash bombs on Mansouri, where Israeli forces demolished homes. At the end of the day, troop movements were observed in Chameh, while artillery fire targeted the direction of Majdal Zoun. In the morning, a drone-dropped bomb near Srifa slightly injured a shepherd.
In the late afternoon, a powerful explosion rang out in Taybeh. The Israeli army was seen moving, apparently transporting explosives to Houshine, near Mais al-Jabal, to demolish homes there. Artillery fire also struck the area.
Earlier, artillery fire targeted Adchit al-Qsair. Artillery also struck Wadi al-Salouki, which straddles the Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun districts.
Other demolitions were reported during the day, notably in Mais al-Jabal and Tallouss. Heavy artillery fire also hit Houla.
