Israel carried out a series of heavy airstrikes in southern Lebanon late on Monday, December 8, targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. According to the Israeli military, the strikes focused on the group’s training and qualification grounds, which were allegedly used to plan and execute attacks against Israel. The operation marks one of the most significant escalations since the recent ceasefire.

Since the truce took effect on November 27, 2024, Israel has conducted multiple air raids across Lebanon, particularly in the southern and eastern border regions. Local reports suggest near-daily bombardments, raising fears of renewed large-scale conflict. Israel has justified the strikes as a defensive measure to neutralize Hezbollah threats and continues to maintain troop deployments at five key positions along the border.

Analysts warn that the ongoing hostilities risk undermining the fragile ceasefire and could draw regional actors, including Iran, deeper into confrontation. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate remain limited, with both sides signaling readiness for further military action.

Israel carried out extensive airstrikes across southern Lebanon early Monday, targeting sites allegedly used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. According to the Israeli military, the attacks struck training and qualification grounds that the group used to plan and execute operations against Israel. The strikes occurred around midnight local time, marking one of the most intense bombardments in recent weeks.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the operation aimed to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the border. Since the ceasefire took effect on November 27, Israel has conducted multiple air raids in Beirut and near the southern and eastern border regions, citing ongoing threats from Hezbollah. Lebanese sources reported significant damage, though casualty figures remain unclear.

Analysts warn that the renewed escalation could undermine the fragile truce and risk drawing the conflict deeper into Lebanese territory. Israel continues to maintain troop deployments at five key positions along the Lebanon border, signaling potential for further confrontations.

Hezbollah’s deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem declared that no external power, including the United States and Israel, will succeed in disarming the Lebanese armed group. Speaking at a memorial event for fallen clerics on December 5, Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah remains committed to defending Lebanon’s sovereignty and will not surrender under any circumstances.

Qassem described Hezbollah as a unifying national force that symbolizes patriotism, freedom, and dignity. He accused Israel of expansionist aggression and urged all necessary measures to counter threats against Lebanon. The leader also criticized U.S. and Israeli interference in Lebanese internal affairs, asserting that neither has the right to dictate the country’s defense policies.

He reiterated Hezbollah’s readiness to cooperate with all Lebanese factions, including Christian groups, to safeguard national interests. Qassem concluded by stating that Hezbollah has fulfilled its duty in defending the nation, and it is now the Lebanese government’s turn to take initiative in ensuring stability and sovereignty.

Lebanon and Israel have held their first direct meeting in four decades, under the supervision of the United States, amid escalating border tensions. The session, part of a ceasefire monitoring committee, took place along the Blue Line and lasted about three hours. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam clarified that the talks were not peace negotiations but aimed at reducing hostilities, securing the release of Lebanese detainees, and ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory. He reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which proposes normalization with Israel in exchange for withdrawal from territories occupied in 1967. The inclusion of civilian representatives was described as a step toward sustained dialogue and stability along the border. Israel’s government spokesperson called the meeting a “historic event,” crediting it to the prime minister’s efforts to promote peace with neighboring countries. The United States has been urging both sides to expand the committee’s mandate beyond the 2024 ceasefire framework.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem has vowed to avenge the killing of the group’s top military commander, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, who died in an Israeli airstrike near Beirut on November 23. In a televised speech on November 27, Qassem described the attack as a 'clear act of aggression and a brutal crime,' asserting Hezbollah’s right to respond at a time of its choosing. He did not specify whether a new war with Israel was imminent but urged Lebanon to rely on its army and citizens for defense. Qassem also expressed hope that the upcoming visit of Pope Leo to Lebanon would help promote peace and curb Israeli aggression. He claimed Hezbollah has abided by the ceasefire agreement effective since November 2024, while accusing Israel of continued attacks. In response, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee criticized Lebanon’s army for failing to curb Hezbollah’s weapons buildup in the south.

On the first anniversary of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli military carried out fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Israeli aircraft targeted multiple sites in the Jezzine area, including Al-Mahmoudiya and Al-Jarma. The Israeli army stated that the strikes destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure, including launch sites, military posts, and weapons depots. Israel claimed the attacks aimed to neutralize threats posed by the Iran-backed group. Despite the 2024 ceasefire deal requiring Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River and dismantle its southern military infrastructure, cross-border hostilities have persisted. The Lebanese government plans to remove all Hezbollah military structures from the south by the end of the year. Israel reaffirmed its commitment to continue operations to eliminate any threats to its security, signaling ongoing instability along the Israel-Lebanon border.

An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, has killed five people, including Hezbollah’s chief of staff Haitham Ali al-Tabatabai. The Israeli military confirmed the strike on Sunday, describing al-Tabatabai as a key operational leader within the group. Arab News identified him as Hezbollah’s second most important figure. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 28 others were injured in the attack, which targeted the densely populated Dahiyeh district. Hezbollah confirmed the death of its senior commander, accusing Israel of crossing a 'serious red line.' The strike occurred despite an existing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States and France in November last year. Israeli officials allege that Hezbollah has been rebuilding its military capacity, smuggling weapons into Lebanon, and increasing the production of explosive drones, raising fears of renewed conflict in the region.

In southern Lebanon’s Marjayoun district, olive farmers are struggling to recover after a year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel devastated their lands. Following the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces bulldozed farmland and uprooted more than 56,000 olive trees to create a buffer zone along the border. Farmers like Khairallah Yaacoub and Hussein Daher face ongoing dangers from Israeli drones and shelling, making it perilous to access their groves. The United Nations reports over 270 Lebanese deaths since the ceasefire, while the FAO estimates $236 million in losses to the olive sector alone. Many farmers have lost livestock and equipment, and olive oil production has plummeted. The Lebanese government has promised compensation of up to $2,500 per farmer and plans to plant 200,000 olive seedlings, but affected communities say aid has been slow and insufficient. Without substantial support from both the government and international donors, farmers fear they will be forced to abandon centuries-old agricultural traditions vital to the region’s economy and identity.

At least 13 people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The attack targeted a vehicle parked near a mosque on November 18. Israel claimed the strike was aimed at Hamas operatives allegedly running a training center inside the camp. However, Hamas denied having any such facility, calling the assault a brutal aggression against innocent Palestinians and a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty. Lebanese authorities reported that at least four others were injured, with emergency services transporting victims to nearby hospitals. The strike came hours after Israel reportedly attacked two vehicles in another area of southern Lebanon, killing two people. The incident underscores escalating cross-border hostilities as Israel continues operations against militant groups in the region.

UN peacekeepers reported that Israeli forces fired from a Merkava tank at a UNIFIL patrol inside Lebanese territory, with heavy machine gun rounds landing just five meters away. No injuries were reported. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the peacekeepers were mistaken for suspects due to poor weather conditions and that only warning shots were fired. UNIFIL condemned the incident as a serious breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which restricts armed forces in southern Lebanon to UN and Lebanese troops. The peacekeepers were pinned down for about 30 minutes before leaving the area. The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire agreement signed last November. Lebanon accused Israel of violating its sovereignty and obstructing the army’s deployment in the south, while Israel maintains it targets Hezbollah militants attempting to rearm. UNIFIL urged Israel to cease aggressive actions against peacekeepers.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has determined that a wall constructed by the Israeli military crosses the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the concrete T-wall built by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made over 4,000 square meters of Lebanese territory inaccessible to residents. Another section of the wall under construction near Yaroun also reportedly extends into Lebanese land. UNIFIL informed the Israeli military of its findings and requested the removal of the wall, calling the construction a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Israeli military denied the allegation, stating the wall is part of a broader border reinforcement plan initiated in 2022 to strengthen defenses along the northern frontier. UNIFIL, which has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978, continues to monitor the situation with more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries.

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, November 8, killed three people in two separate attacks, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) as reported by Press TV. Two of the victims were brothers from the town of Shebaa, who were traveling in an SUV along the slopes of Mount Hermon when their vehicle was struck and set ablaze. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed their deaths and reported another fatality in a separate strike targeting a vehicle in the village of Barashit, which also left four others injured. The Israeli military claimed the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah members, alleging that those killed posed a threat to the 2024 ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. Lebanese sources argue that Israel has repeatedly used such claims to justify renewed attacks since the agreement was signed. Earlier, an Israeli drone strike in Bint Jbeil injured seven people.

The United States has announced tough new sanctions against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, accusing the group of laundering over one billion dollars in funds received from Iran through both licensed and unlicensed money exchange networks. The U.S. Treasury said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force has been transferring large sums since January, fueling Hezbollah’s paramilitary operations and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. Treasury Under Secretary John Hurley emphasized that Lebanon can only achieve stability and prosperity if Hezbollah is disarmed and cut off from Iranian financial and political influence. The sanctions coincide with renewed violence in Lebanon, as Israel launched significant airstrikes despite a year-old ceasefire between the two sides. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, one person was killed and another injured in Thursday’s attacks. In response, the Lebanese army has started operations to dismantle Hezbollah bases in the south. The move heightens regional tension amid ongoing disputes over Iranian involvement and Hezbollah’s growing military presence within Lebanon.

Israel carried out extensive airstrikes across four cities in southern Lebanon—Ayta al-Jabal, Taybeh, Tair Debba, and Zawtar al-Sharqiya—killing at least one person and injuring nine others. Lebanese officials accused Israel of flagrantly violating the ceasefire agreement brokered in late 2024, following months of border tensions. According to Lebanon’s state news agency, Israeli fighter jets struck civilian areas in Tyre district, contradicting Israel’s claim that the strikes targeted Hezbollah military sites.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks, calling them “a clear breach of international humanitarian law” and evidence that Israel was forcing a new war on Lebanon. Hezbollah reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire but warned it would not remain silent under continued Israeli aggression. The group said it reserved the legitimate right to respond in self-defense.

The recent escalation comes despite the 2024 ceasefire, which required Israel to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025—a condition that remains unfulfilled. Israel continues to maintain troops in at least five border posts and has conducted near-daily air raids since the truce. Over 4,000 Lebanese have been killed since the conflict reignited in 2024, underscoring the fragility of the region’s security and diplomacy.

Israeli forces carried out a late-night raid in Blida, southern Lebanon, on October 29, killing municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh. The operation, which involved drones and armored vehicles, targeted a municipal building, allegedly to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, though Israel has provided no evidence that the building was used by the group. The military claimed gunfire was opened after encountering a “suspicious individual,” but it remains unclear whether Salameh was the intended target. The attack has sparked outrage across Lebanon. President Michel Aoun has ordered the military to repel any Israeli incursions along the southern border. Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strike as a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and government institutions. Demonstrations were held in Blida and surrounding towns, with protesters burning tires and blocking roads to denounce the attack and the state’s failure to protect citizens.