Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli-controlled explosion in the village of Majdal Zoun, seen from the neighboring village of Hannieh, in southern Lebanon, on Sept. 26, 2026. (Credit: Kawnat/Haju/AFP)
Israel escalated its air strikes on southern Lebanon on Monday starting at dawn, according to our correspondent in the region. Dozens of strikes and explosions were heard in the villages and valleys of the districts of Sour, Bint Jbeil, and Marjayoun at a time when Israeli warplanes and reconnaissance drones continue to hover above, violating Lebanese airspace.
Israeli attacks on various regions of the South have been near-constant since the war re-escalated on March 2. Israel continues to destroy villages and infrastructure, without any response claimed by Hezbollah in recent months. On Sunday, Hezbollah's Secretary General Naim Qassem stated in a speech marking the second anniversary of the assassination of his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, that Hezbollah did not intend to abandon armed resistance. He also once again harshly denounced the direct talks initiated by Lebanese authorities with the Israelis, though these discussions are currently on hold.
Israeli jets carried out more than seven strikes using high-capacity missiles, particularly in the Zibqine valley (Sour). That same valley was also heavily targeted at the same time, pounded by nearly 70 rounds of heavy artillery between 5 and 6 a.m. Explosions were heard in several other villages in the Sour district.
A house was destroyed by an Israeli strike in an area between Haddatha and Hariss. Haddatha and Srebbine were also heavily fired upon a little later. Two more strikes targeted the Debch area west of Mais al-Jabal, and Tallousa in the Marjayoun district. The Israeli army also conducted several demolitions around Mais al-Jabal, near Marjayoun.
A few hours later, movement of Israeli troops was observed in the village of Mansouri, according to our correspondent. Meanwhile, artillery fire continued on Wadi Slouqi (Marjayoun) and the areas around Kfar Shuba and Shebaa (Hasbaya).
Meanwhile, our correspondent in the Bekaa reports that the "cease-fire" monitoring committee (known as the “Mechanism”) gave the green light for the rehabilitation of the road linking Machghara to Sohmor in West Bekaa, near the Qaraoun dam on the Litani River. This road had long been cut off following Israeli strikes on May 26. That targeting of the surroundings of Lebanon’s largest dam had raised fears of a major human and environmental disaster.
Nighttime attacks
The night was not much calmer. Israeli fire hit the areas of Kfar Tibnit and Nabatieh Fawqa (Nabatieh) after midnight, at a time when illumination bombs were dropped over Haddatha and Hariss, as well as in the skies over Wadi Slouqi. Mansouri was also targeted by particularly powerful missiles after midnight.
The previous day's Israeli strikes affected seven villages in the South, while 13 other localities were shelled with artillery. Israeli helicopters also carried out attacks in several villages, some of which saw large-scale demolitions.
Reporting contributed by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Muntasser Abdallah.
