Israel Prepares for Potential Multi-Day Clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing for the possibility of several days of combat in Lebanon amid rising tensions with Hezbollah. The current escalation centers on Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure in the Ali Taher and Beaufort mountain ranges. Israel is determined to complete the destruction of these terror sites, although some remain intact. Hezbollah is reportedly concerned about the IDF’s activities and is attempting to strike Israeli forces operating in the area.

Several dozen Hezbollah militants are believed to be trapped underground in the Ali Taher ridge. The IDF has thwarted Hezbollah’s efforts to reinforce these fighters. Despite recent attacks, Israel has exercised restraint in recent days to avoid jeopardizing ongoing US-mediated negotiations with the Lebanese government. This political consideration led to the rejection of some IDF proposals for retaliatory actions against Hezbollah’s provocations.

Following a serious incident in which three IDF soldiers were wounded near Ali Taher, the IDF launched a broad wave of strikes overnight between Saturday and Sunday, described in Lebanon as a "belt of fire." Among those killed was Abu Hassan Alaa, a senior Hezbollah commander in the Badr unit, in the Deir al-Zahrani area. Earlier, Ali Samir Al-Hajj Hassan, a battalion commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan unit, was killed at his base in Ansar village near Nabatieh. The IDF stated that several other militants involved in planning attacks against Israeli forces were also eliminated.

The US State Department spokesperson told Al Jazeera that Hezbollah is responsible for Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon and is the main obstacle to Lebanon’s economic recovery. The spokesperson emphasized that pilot zones are the only practical path toward peace in the region.