Israeli forces conducted new airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, targeting Hezbollah positions and prompting mass evacuations as tensions threaten to unravel a year-long ceasefire. The escalation comes amid warnings from analysts about Israel's strategic 'pressure by fire' campaign to weaken the militant group's influence.
Residents of Al-Tayyiba, Tayr Debba, and Aita al-Jabal received urgent evacuation orders via Israeli military alerts before strikes destroyed homes and infrastructure. Lebanese sources confirmed one fatality and nine injuries across multiple villages, with schools closing preemptively in Nabatieh due to safety concerns.
The attacks mark a significant uptick in military activity, with 22 Israeli operations recorded in early November alone – including air raids and artillery shelling that left eight dead and 10 injured. Civilian displacement has created heavy traffic as families flee conflict zones, compounding humanitarian challenges in the region.
Lebanese military intelligence revealed progress in clearing militant strongholds south of the Litani River, having neutralized dozens of sites. However, Hezbollah remains defiant, rejecting Israeli demands for disarmament as 'humiliating preconditions' in an open letter to Lebanese leadership.
UN peacekeepers expressed alarm over the deteriorating security situation, urging restraint from all parties. Political analyst Nidal Issa warned Lebanon stands 'on the brink of new confrontation,' while advisor Refaat Badawi suggested Israel seeks to leverage military pressure for diplomatic gains.
As the Lebanese army approaches 90% completion of its first-phase security mission, regional stability hangs in balance. With both sides maintaining combat readiness along the border, the international community watches closely for signs of escalation that could disrupt fragile peace efforts.
