A fire broke out in Zawtar Sharqieh after the Israeli army dropped phosphorus bombs on its outskirts on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah)
BEIRUT — The Directorate General of General Security reopened its Nabatieh center on Wednesday, serving residents of the city and surrounding areas amid ongoing security concerns in the region. The Israeli army continued its attacks from Tuesday night into Wednesday and throughout Wednesday in several areas of southern Lebanon, our correspondent reports.
General Security (GS), which provides administrative services there, including those related to passports, residency and visas, announced that it had "resumed its activities as usual" at the "Martyr Warrant Officer Ali Ayash" GS center as of Wednesday. The reopening allows Nabatieh residents to complete their paperwork locally without having to go to other regional centers.
At the same time, the regional centers under the GS office in southern Lebanon will continue, "on an exceptional basis," to accept applications from Nabatieh residents "in view of the security situation," the institution said.
'Security situation' in Nabatieh remains concerning
Although the Israeli army has withdrawn a few kilometers from Ali Taher hill overlooking Nabatieh, concerns remain high in the capital of Jabal Amel. Two weeks ago, the Israeli army blew up a Hezbollah tunnel network under the ridge before partially withdrawing from the area. On Wednesday, several attacks were again reported in the region. Phosphorus bombs were dropped on the outskirts of Zawtar Sharqieh, causing a major fire, and the village was targeted with automatic weapons at dawn.
Artillery fire also targeted the outskirts of Mayfadoun, south of Nabatieh, and then Nabatieh Fawqa at mid-afternoon. It was in this sector of the city that Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on a building in the Deir neighborhood on Tuesday evening. The sound of explosions was heard throughout the region.
In early September, amid concerns from local officials and residents as the Israeli army ramped up its offensive on Ali Taher and carried out deadly strikes in the city, the Lebanese Army deployed to the region, followed by personnel from General Security and State Security. Following in the footsteps of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa, who visited Nabatieh in September, Justice Minister Adel Nassar (Kataeb) visited the city's courthouse on Tuesday.
A public school damaged
In the eastern sector, residents of Marjayoun contacted by our correspondent said a powerful explosion occurred Tuesday night at the northern entrance to Khiam, targeting several homes and damaging the public school in Jdeidet Marjayoun, several kilometers farther north. Classes were temporarily suspended there on Wednesday. Several homes in surrounding localities were also damaged by the blast, which caused a power outage in the area. The explosion was heard as far away as the western Bekaa, our correspondent reports.
Several attacks were also reported in the central sector. In Bint Jbeil district, artillery fire targeted Braasheet, and machine-gun fire hit the same village as well as Haddatha, Beit Yahoun, and Aita al-Jabal.
From Tuesday night into Wednesday, Israeli attacks multiplied in the locality of Mansouri, which the Israeli army has been systematically destroying for weeks. Three strikes targeted several buildings, and artillery continued to hit the coastal village several times throughout the night. After 2 a.m., Israeli forces triggered another large explosion. In Bint Jbeil district, they blew up several homes on the outskirts of Braasheet. A Merkava tank stationed at Rshaf fired multiple shells toward Sarbine, and the Israeli army fired machine guns overnight at Beit Yahoun while flares were launched toward Wadi Slouqi (Marjayoun district). Israel also targeted the hills of Halta (Hasbaya district) and an area near Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun district) with artillery. Israeli military vehicles were also seen driving in residential areas of Houla (Marjayoun district).
European ambassadors in Saida
On Tuesday, the Israeli army carried out a series of airstrikes on two southern Lebanese towns, and the outskirts and neighborhoods of 15 villages were subjected to intense artillery fire. It also carried out major explosions targeting homes, buildings and infrastructure in four towns.
On the diplomatic front, the ambassadors to Lebanon from Spain, Germany, Norway and Sweden, along with a representative from Belgium — all from countries supporting the international nongovernmental organization Action Against Hunger (ACF) — visited the major city of Saida. The diplomats made a field visit to a shelter center to observe aid distribution procedures, according to a statement.
Reporting by our southern Lebanon correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah