IDF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon Following Drone Incursion

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley overnight Thursday after the Iranian-backed terror group sent a surveillance drone into Israeli territory.

According to the IDF, the drone incursion violated the November 26 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It marked the first time since the truce began that Hezbollah deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) toward Israel.

"The IDF is committed to the ceasefire but will not allow terrorist threats to materialize," the military stated.

Under intelligence guidance from Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck several Hezbollah sites, including:

A weapons production and storage facility hidden in tunnels.

Terrorist infrastructure near the Lebanon-Syria border used for arms smuggling.

While the ceasefire agreement requires the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and U.N. forces (UNIFIL) to ensure Hezbollah remains disarmed south of the Litani River, Israel has growing doubts about Lebanon’s ability to enforce the deal.

Israeli forces remain engaged in targeted strikes against Hezbollah activities in Southern Lebanon, including:

Wednesday: An IAF strike on an “engineering vehicle” used by Hezbollah to rebuild military infrastructure.

Tuesday: A strike on a vehicle carrying Hezbollah terrorists deemed an imminent threat.

Although the ceasefire agreement outlined a 60-day Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon, Jerusalem has stated it will not fully withdraw until Hezbollah complies with the deal.

On January 24, the Israeli government delayed its pullout, declaring that:

“Israel will not endanger its communities and citizens. Our withdrawal is conditional on the Lebanese Armed Forces fully enforcing the agreement and Hezbollah withdrawing beyond the Litani River.”

With ongoing Hezbollah provocations, Israel has coordinated with the United States to extend its phased withdrawal until February 18 while maintaining security operations in the region.

As Hezbollah continues to test the limits of the ceasefire, Israel remains firm in its commitment to protecting its northern communities. The IDF has made it clear: any threat from Southern Lebanon will be met with decisive military action.

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