IDF launches wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah, Hamas targets in Lebanon

According to the military, many of the targeted sites were embedded within civilian areas.

By World Israel News

The Israel Defense Forces carried out a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Monday after issuing evacuation notices to residents of several villages, warning that it would soon target terrorist infrastructure in the area.

In a statement, the IDF said it struck weapons depots and military facilities belonging to the terror organizations Hezbollah and Hamas in multiple locations throughout Lebanon.

According to the military, the targets included weapons depots and military infrastructure above and below ground used by Hezbollah to rebuild its capabilities and advance attack plans against the State of Israel and IDF forces.

The IDF also said it struck Hamas weapons production sites in southern Lebanon that were being used to strengthen the organization and facilitate planned attacks against Israeli troops and Israeli territory.

According to the military, many of the targeted sites were embedded within civilian areas, which it described as another example of what it called the cynical use of Lebanese civilians as human shields by terrorist organizations.

The IDF said multiple steps were taken ahead of the strikes to reduce the risk to civilians, including advance warnings to the local population issued by the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson.

The airstrikes followed additional targeted operations against Hezbollah terrorists. The IDF said Monday that it eliminated two Hezbollah terrorists in a strike carried out Sunday in the Jmeijmeh area of southern Lebanon, after determining they were involved in efforts to restore the group’s military infrastructure.

The military said the activity at the targeted sites constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and posed an ongoing threat to Israel’s security. It stressed that it will continue to act to remove any threat and prevent terrorist organizations from reestablishing military capabilities along Israel’s northern border.

The escalation comes as international pressure on Beirut continues to mount. A White House deadline that expired at the end of the year required Lebanon to demonstrate significant progress in disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its military infrastructure.

U.S. and Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that failure to comply with existing ceasefire arrangements could lead to renewed Israeli military action, amid reports that President Donald Trump has given Israel latitude to act against the Iranian-backed group.