Israeli Strikes and Ground Incursions Escalate Across Southern Lebanon

Southern Lebanon witnessed a major escalation in Israeli military activity on Thursday, with airstrikes, artillery shelling, demolitions of homes and infrastructure, and ground incursions reported across several areas.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli drones carried out two successive strikes on the Ali al-Taher heights in the Nabatieh district, while Israeli warplanes also conducted two additional raids on the area.

In the Tyre district, Israeli forces reportedly demolished homes and infrastructure in the eastern and fourth neighborhoods of the Al-Mashaa area between the towns of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun. The agency said the demolitions involved barrels packed with highly destructive explosives.

The town of Mansouri also came under Israeli artillery fire as Israeli military vehicles moved in the area and booby-trapped fuel containers were transported toward the town. An Israeli Merkava tank and a D9 bulldozer reportedly entered Mansouri, while an Israeli drone dropped two stun bombs along the Aaziyah-Mansouri road.

Israeli drones were also reported flying over the Tyre area during the early hours of Thursday.

In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli forces carried out demolitions in the towns of Hadatha and Wadi Barashit. Meanwhile, in Hasbaya, an Israeli force entered the Halta farm area, surrounded several homes and prevented some residents from leaving, according to the Lebanese agency.

Earlier on Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said rebuilding southern Lebanon was the responsibility of the state, but stressed that reconstruction could not proceed while the Israeli occupation continued.

The latest escalation comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon since March 2, 2026. According to the figures cited, the violence has killed more than 4,000 people, wounded over 12,000 and displaced more than one million residents.