IDF Launches Wave of Strikes on Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon After Evacuation Warnings

The IDF launched a wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, about an hour after issuing evacuation warnings to residents in three villages. The strikes began at 3:58 p.m., marking the second round of attacks in the area today.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the operation targeted military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terror organization. Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee had earlier ordered residents of Altayba, Tir Daba, and Aita al-Jabal to immediately evacuate several buildings used by Hezbollah for military activity.

“Residents of these buildings are in structures being used by Hezbollah,” the statement said. “For your safety, you are requested to evacuate immediately to a distance of at least 500 meters from the building. Remaining in the area endangers you.” The warnings caused heavy traffic congestion across parts of southern Lebanon as residents attempted to leave the affected zones.

A senior IDF official told KAN News that the army was not looking to escalate the situation on the northern border but was acting to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its operational capabilities. “The IDF continues enforcement operations to prevent Hezbollah’s renewed entrenchment,” the official said. “We are not seeking escalation, and there are no special instructions for northern residents.”

Earlier in the day, the IDF carried out another strike in the Tyre area, targeting what it described as a “construction unit” within Hezbollah responsible for manufacturing equipment used to repair previously destroyed terror infrastructure.

“IDF forces, led by the Northern Command and the Air Force, struck terrorists operating within a Hezbollah construction-unit terror infrastructure in the Tyre area,” the military said in a statement. “Their activity constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel.”

The new wave of strikes comes as an alert has been heightened on the northern frontier, where Hezbollah has intensified its activity in recent weeks. As the attacks continued into the evening, the Israeli security cabinet was scheduled to convene at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement under U.S. mediation and the growing escalation along the Lebanese border.

The IDF said operations would continue as needed “to ensure security for residents of northern Israel” while stressing that Israel “has no interest in further escalation.”