IDF strikes Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting direct threat

The Israel Defense Forces launched airstrikes in southern Lebanon late Thursday night, targeting Hezbollah facilities that the military said posed a direct threat to Israel. The strikes hit sites used to store weapons and launchers in several locations, including Yohmor, Deir Siryan, Yater, and Zibqin.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah’s use of these sites violated existing agreements between Israel and Lebanon. The strikes coincided with clashes in Beirut between pro-Hezbollah protesters and the Lebanese army, following Lebanon’s reported refusal to allow an Iranian passenger flight to land a move linked to Israeli claims that Iran is smuggling cash to Hezbollah through such flights.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have remained high despite a ceasefire agreement that ended two months of intense fighting. The conflict began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in coordination with Hamas’ brutal assault a day earlier, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. The fighting forced tens of thousands of Israeli civilians in the north to flee their homes.

Under the ceasefire deal, the Lebanese army was meant to deploy in the south alongside UN peacekeepers as the IDF withdrew over a 60-day period, later extended to February 18. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, was also expected to pull back from positions near the Israeli border. However, with the deadline looming, Israel has signaled it will maintain control over five key strategic points, a move backed by the United States but opposed by Hezbollah allies in Lebanon’s leadership.

While Israel remains committed to agreements allowing action against immediate threats, it continues to face a dangerous enemy in Hezbollah, which refuses to disarm and remains a destabilizing force in the region. As the situation unfolds, Israel stands firm in its defense.

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