Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon as Deadline to Disarm Hezbollah Nears
Israeli warplanes bombed Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh area, including locations such as Houmin, Wadi Azza, and Nimeiriya. The Israeli military stated that these strikes targeted Hezbollah launching sites and military infrastructure, describing them as violations of understandings with Lebanon.
These military actions come as a year-end deadline approaches for Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River under a US-approved plan. According to this plan, Lebanon’s army is to clear Hezbollah infrastructure in the south and then withdraw, while Israel retains five footholds in the area.
Since the ceasefire in December 2024, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reports that Israel has bombed Lebanon approximately every four hours, while Hezbollah shelled Israel only once in the week following the ceasefire.
Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri conveyed on 17 December that Lebanon was nearing completion of disarmament in the south and that the ceasefire was being strictly observed. Conversely, Israel accuses Hezbollah of rebuilding its military capabilities in the region.
A drone strike near Saida killed three men, with Israel claiming that one of them was a Lebanese army warrant officer linked to Hezbollah. Lebanon denied this connection, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the disarmament process.
Diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon continue in Naqoura and include civilian representatives. Israel has stated that these diplomatic efforts are separate from its military actions. However, discussions may intersect with Israel’s plans for an expanded offensive against Hezbollah, which are expected to be discussed in forthcoming meetings between Israeli leaders.
