The Israel Defense Forces said Friday morning that it struck Hezbollah terrorists and terror infrastructure across several areas in southern Lebanon throughout the night, and that the offensive was still continuing. According to the military, the attacks came after what it described as repeated violations of the ceasefire by the group.
The strikes come amid rising security tensions on Israel’s northern front. The IDF said it continues to operate against threats to Israeli civilians and security forces, while diplomatic contacts between Israel and Lebanon are also ongoing. The operation is taking place alongside the broader agreement reached between the United States and Iran.
The timing has also affected diplomacy elsewhere. As reported by Kikar HaShabbat, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance postponed a planned trip to Switzerland for talks with Iran, with some officials assessing that the real reason was the situation in Lebanon and Israel’s strikes there. The report said the American and Iranian delegations did not move on to the final stage of the talks in Switzerland because of the fighting in Lebanon.
Security officials said that despite political understandings, the IDF will keep holding the security zone as needed based on operational requirements. The goal, they said, is to defend northern communities and remove threats to forces, even if those threats are identified beyond the defined security area. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered immediate preparations for all scenarios, both defensive and offensive, with special focus on Air Force squadrons and air defense systems. The military is preparing for possible attacks in Iran and a rapid return to intense fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah. Several thousand U.S. soldiers are still in Israel as part of the broader campaign against Iran.
