Israeli military said on Friday (September 4th) that after Hezbollah launched drones at Israeli soldiers, the Israeli military has carried out airstrikes on multiple targets in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military reported that earlier that day, a drone approached Israeli soldiers, who managed to shoot it down with no injuries to any Israeli personnel. The military described the drone attack as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement, stating that the soldiers were in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon at the time.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry stated that the attacks resulted in three deaths and 23 injuries, including medical personnel, women, and children. Hezbollah did not immediately respond to Reuters’s request for comment.
According to Lebanese media outlet Naharnet, Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in Nabatieh, Tyre, and West Bekaa.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported that two young men in Nabatieh were “targeted while riding a motorcycle.” Other locations hit include the Ali al-Taher ridge and its surroundings.
This conflict comes as the Israeli military recently announced gaining operational control of the Ali al-Taher ridge. Located near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, overlooking a vast area, the ridge has been one of the most strategically contested points in recent months between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “The mission has been accomplished, and the terrorists inside the tunnel have been eliminated.”
The Israeli military reported that some Hezbollah fighters were killed, while others fled, and that it dismantled local underground command centers, weapon storage facilities, and living areas.
Katz also mentioned that seizing the ridge signifies “complete control over the security zone in southern Lebanon.” The French newspaper Le Monde reported that the Israeli-described “security zone” constitutes about 6% of Lebanese territory.
However, the actual extent of Israeli control over the ridge remains unconfirmed. A Lebanese military official told Reuters that the Israeli military has control of the southern entrance to the tunnel facilities and can monitor the northern entrance using surveillance drones. Yet, it remains unclear how far the Israeli military has advanced and whether armed personnel are still present inside.
Hezbollah has neither confirmed nor denied the Israeli claims of controlling the ridge.
Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in June under U.S. mediation between Israel and Lebanon, hostilities have not completely ceased, albeit with reduced intensity.
Efforts for confidence-building measures between Israel and Lebanon are also being pushed under U.S. mediation. This week, Israel handed over three Lebanese and two Syrian individuals to Lebanese authorities.
A statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the individuals are civilians, not members of any terrorist organizations, and were not involved in any terrorist activities.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hinted at the possibility of more detainees being released in the future.
Currently, the ceasefire framework between Israel and Lebanon has yet to be fully implemented, as airstrikes and clashes continue in southern Lebanon, with the control of the Ali al-Taher ridge becoming a focal point in the latest round of military confrontations.