Israel struck over 70 Hezbollah-linked sites across Lebanon as border tensions surged and northern Israeli communities faced fresh restrictions and school closures.
Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in Lebanon amid escalating cross-border tensions. | File Photo/Reuters via ANI
Israel launched a fresh round of airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, targeting dozens of Hezbollah-linked sites hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly ordered the military to intensify operations against the Iran-backed group.
The latest escalation comes at a time when tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have sharply intensified, with drone attacks and cross-border fire continuing to fuel fears of a wider regional conflict. Israel has signalled that it is prepared to deepen military action against Hezbollah, while northern Israeli towns are once again facing tightened security restrictions.
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According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), fighter jets struck more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure targets across Lebanon using around 85 munitions. The military said several sites in the Tyre area, including command centres and weapons storage facilities allegedly used by Hezbollah, were among the targets hit.
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In a statement posted on X, the IDF said Hezbollah operatives travelling on motorcycles were also killed during the operation.
The Israeli Air Force additionally carried out strikes in the Beqaa Valley and other parts of Lebanon, the military added.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), cited by Al Jazeera, reported that at least seven people were killed and several others injured in the attacks.
According to the report, five people died in an airstrike on Machgharah, where rescue teams were still evacuating survivors trapped under the debris of damaged homes. Another strike in Kouthariyeh el-Siyad reportedly killed two people and wounded two others.
Following the attacks, Israel’s Home Front Command announced new restrictions for communities near the Lebanese border.
Under the revised rules, outdoor gatherings will now be capped at 50 people, while indoor gatherings will be limited to 200. The previous limits allowed 200 people outdoors and 600 indoors.
Local authorities in northern Israel have also ordered schools to remain shut until further notice, according to The Times of Israel.
The latest strikes came shortly after Netanyahu declared that Israel would not ease military pressure on Hezbollah.
“We are at war with Hezbollah. Just in recent weeks, our brave fighters have eliminated more than 600 terrorists,” Netanyahu said in a video statement cited by The Times of Israel.
“But we are not taking our foot off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed them to press the pedal even harder,” he added.
The report also said a US official had indicated that Washington would support a broader Israeli operation against Hezbollah amid an increase in drone attacks targeting Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified dramatically in recent weeks, raising fresh concerns over the possibility of a larger regional confrontation involving Iran-backed groups across West Asia.
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