The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently conducted multiple
airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, targeting weapons storage,
rocket launchers, and military infrastructure. The strikes came after
violations of ceasefire agreements, including mortar attacks by Hezbollah. Both
sides have blamed each other for escalating tensions, while civilians have
suffered casualties and displacements.
What prompted the IDF airstrikes in southern Lebanon?
The IDF launched a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah
terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon following several violations of a
fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. According
to the IDF, the strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, missile launchers,
and underground military sites used by Hezbollah operatives to launch attacks
on Israeli territory.
As reported by the Long War Journal, the strikes included
attacks on areas such as Jbaa, Zahalti, Sniya, Taraiyya near Baalbek, and Janta
in the Beqaa Valley, aiming to disrupt Hezbollah's transit and weapons
infrastructure that often receives arms from Syria.
How did the IDF justify these strikes?
The IDF stated that the airstrikes were responses to
activities and threats identified at the targeted sites. After Hezbollah fired
mortars towards the Mount Dov area, constituting "a serious violation of
the ceasefire," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a firm Israeli
response. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this with warnings of a
"harsh response" to ceasefire breaches.
The IDF further claimed its operations are in defence of the
citizens of Israel and that Lebanon, as a state, is responsible for preventing
Hezbollah from launching attacks from its territory. The military vowed to
continue its efforts to "eliminate every threat" posed by Hezbollah
and prevent the terrorist group from establishing a presence near the Israeli
border.
What are the details of the recent strikes and their impact?
On August 6 and 7, 2025, the IDF targeted over 50 Hezbollah
locations throughout Lebanon, including weapons stores, launchers, and
operational infrastructure. There were reports of multiple airstrikes hitting
southern Lebanon districts such as Jezzine, Sidon, Nabatieh, and Baalbek, among
others.
In one instance, Israeli jets struck a Hezbollah facility
used to hold medium-range rockets. Another airstrike targeted operatives in a
launch site from which dozens of rockets were fired at Israel. The IDF also
fired warning shots at suspected Hezbollah operatives attempting to approach
no-go zones near the border.
Although the IDF asserted the strikes were carefully aimed
at terrorist targets, Lebanese sources reported casualties among civilians,
including wounded people in areas like Hawsh al Sayyed Ali and the villages of
Haris and Tallousa, where at least nine people were killed in other strikes
reported in late 2024 and early 2025.
How has Hezbollah responded to the IDF airstrikes?
Hezbollah has denied responsibility for some rocket fire
from southern Lebanon, calling Israeli accusations "excuses" for
aggression. They reaffirm their commitment to the ceasefire while condemning
continued Israeli operations against Lebanon, which they describe as acts of
ongoing aggression.
Following recent strikes, Hezbollah fired numerous rockets
into northern Israel, resulting in injuries and further escalating tensions.
The group stated that their military actions support the Palestinian militant
group Hamas and vowed to continue until a ceasefire in Gaza is achieved.
What has been the role of the Lebanese government and armed forces?
Media reports indicate that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
have not taken sufficient action to curb Hezbollah's military activities in
southern Lebanon. The ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. and France
requires the LAF to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its military infrastructure
south of the Litani River, but implementation remains limited.
The IDF and international observers have criticised Lebanon
for failing to control the border effectively, allowing Hezbollah to maintain
and replenish its weapons stockpiles. The Lebanese government faces pressure to
uphold its responsibilities in preventing its territory from being used for
hostilities against Israel.
What is the broader context of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict?
The recent airstrikes are part of an ongoing conflict cycle
that intensified following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Hezbollah launched military operations the next day, escalating into a
prolonged confrontation involving heavy Israeli airstrikes and rocket attacks
from Lebanon.
According to BBC and other sources, between October 2023 and
early 2025, thousands have been killed or injured, with heavy damage in Lebanon
and northern Israel. The United Nations has expressed concern over the potential
for full-scale war, warning that Lebanon could become "another Gaza".
What are Israeli military objectives in Lebanon currently?
Lt Gen Herzi Halevi of the Israeli military outlined three
primary objectives for ongoing operations in Lebanon: to degrade Hezbollah's
rocket-launching capabilities, to push Hezbollah forces away from the border,
and to dismantle the elite Radwan forces' infrastructure established for
attacks on Israeli civilians. These airstrikes aim to secure northern Israeli
communities and enable displaced residents to return home safely.
What are the humanitarian consequences of the airstrikes?
The ongoing hostilities have led to significant civilian
casualties and displacement. Lebanese health authorities reported hundreds of
deaths from Israeli airstrikes, with thousands more injured. Many villages,
particularly in southern Lebanon, have been badly damaged, with civilians
fleeing their homes amid escalating violence.
Some residents have begun returning to their destroyed homes
despite the risks, expressing resolve to rebuild their lives. However, the
continued cycle of violence remains a severe humanitarian concern across the
region.
What do international actors say about the conflict?
The United Nations and human rights experts have condemned
the heavy civilian toll and the use of "destructive violence" by
Israel in Lebanon. Secretary-General António Guterres has warned about the
dangers of an all-out conflict in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the ceasefire brokered by
the U.S. and France remains fragile and riddled with violations by both sides.
The IDF's recent airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern
Lebanon mark a further escalation in an already tense and volatile conflict.
Both sides blame each other for ceasefire violations as they engage in a deadly
struggle with significant humanitarian consequences, while international calls
for restraint continue. The situation remains precarious, with the potential
for wider conflict looming.