Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon After Drone Attack

The Israeli military launched a significant wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight Monday, responding to a booby-trapped drone attack on Israeli forces operating in the area. The strikes primarily focused on the Nabatieh region, with a Hezbollah structure in the village of Deir ez-Zahran being a key target. Residents of the village received an advance evacuation warning before the strike.

Shortly after 2 a.m., the IDF's Arabic spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ella Vaouya, issued an urgent message to residents of Deir ez-Zahran, including a map highlighting a specific structure. Those in and near the targeted building were instructed to evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away. The message stated that the strike was a response to a "blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by the terrorist organization Hezbollah" due to the drone launch, emphasizing that the IDF did not wish to harm civilians.

Following the evacuation warning, many residents began leaving Deir ez-Zahran. Lebanese media reported around 2:45 a.m. that warplanes had struck the structure indicated in the warning. The IDF has not yet released further details on the precise nature of the facility or the strike's outcome.

Simultaneously with the Deir ez-Zahran strike, reports from Lebanon indicated additional attacks in the villages of Rmeish, Arab Salim, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa. Artillery fire was also reported in several southern areas, and the IDF reportedly detonated an explosive device in the Zawtar al-Sharqiyah area. Lebanese rescue teams reported extracting ten casualties from a building hit in Rmeish. Media affiliated with Hezbollah claimed a vehicle belonging to the Amal movement's "Al-Resala Association" was targeted, resulting in one death and two injuries.

The strikes followed Hezbollah's launch of a booby-trapped drone toward Israeli forces earlier on Monday, which Israel deemed a severe ceasefire violation. The IDF stated it would act against facilities and infrastructure used by Hezbollah. These overnight strikes are part of an escalation in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours. Previously, the IDF attacked Hezbollah weapons depots and command centers near Nabatieh, stating these were located near civilian structures and that evacuation warnings were issued to minimize civilian harm.

Lebanese authorities claimed that seven people were killed and about 20 injured in earlier strikes. Lebanese President Michel Aoun condemned the actions and called for international intervention. Israel rejected these claims, asserting that the strikes targeted Hezbollah military infrastructure situated within civilian areas.