A building destroyed by Israel in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, on April 17, 2026. (Credit: by Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Today)
SOUTH LEBANON — In addition to its recent heavy attacks on the Ali Taher area and its surroundings (Nabatieh), as well as in and around Mansouri (Sour), on Wednesday at dawn Israel carried out an strike on Arab Salim (Nabatieh). Arab Salim is a village in the Iqlim al-Tuffah, a region in the north of the Nabatieh district that is not included in the "buffer zone" under Israeli occupation but has become a focal point for Israeli strikes. This marks the second bombardment of this locality in less than a week, following accusations by the Israeli army that Hezbollah had attacked its forces on the strategic Ali Taher ridge with "drones," a focal point both on the ground and in the political arena.
At around 5 a.m. Wednesday, an Israeli air strike targeted a small building in Arab Salim, with no immediate reports of casualties, according to information from our correspondent. The Israeli army justified this strike "in the Nabatieh region" — without specifying the village — claiming it was in response to "Hezbollah infrastructure" after the group "launched two explosive drones overnight at Israeli forces in the Ali Taher summit area." The army reported that Hezbollah's alleged attack caused no casualties.
Civilian casualties
This is the third time since Aug. 15 that the Israeli army has accused Hezbollah of launching drones toward its forces in Ali Taher. Each time, it has responded with bombings outside the "buffer zone." On Aug. 15, Israeli strikes on Deir Zahrani and Ansar killed 11 people, while on Aug. 27, bombings in Arab Salim killed a young woman.
Beyond the strike on this village, the Israeli army continued its attacks throughout Wednesday, particularly in Ali Taher and its surroundings. It carried out consecutive dawn strikes with high-explosive missiles, whose detonations were heard throughout the area, and fired artillery shells, including white phosphorus.
Israel also targeted the nearby hill of Dabshe and Zawtar Sharqieh with airstrikes, while Israeli artillery fire targeted Zawtar Sharqieh, Mayfadoun, and Nabatieh Fawqa. Additionally, an Israeli drone strike hit the abbatoir district of Nabatieh, targeting a house, but reportedly caused no casualties.
Israel has also intensified its attacks on the district of Nabatieh and Mansouri (Sour), with an airstrike, artillery fire, and a demolition operation reported in the village since Tuesday evening.
In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli military vehicles were observed moving in Beit Yahoun this morning, alongside automatic gunfire directed towards the village. An Israeli strike took place in Haddatha, and automatic gunfire was also reported from that village towards the neighboring village of Aita al-Jabal.
In the Marjayoun district, Israeli forces set fire to homes in Tallousa, while artillery fire targeted Qantara.
