ALBAWABA - Israeli jets attacked several areas from the air in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley. They targeted forests and the edges of several towns, which locals said was the biggest increase in violence in the last few hours.
Field reports say that the strikes happened in or near the town of Mahmoudiya in the south, in the Jbour area in the western Bekaa, on the edges of Jbaa, and in Wadi al-Qatrani in the Jezzine region. Israeli planes were also seen flying low over southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, where drone activity had also stepped up.
Afterward, the Israel Defense Forces said they had attacked Hezbollah military equipment and tunnel entrances in southern Lebanon. The army said in a statement that the areas had been watched for months and were being used to store weapons, which was against the terms of the security agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It also said that operations would keep going to deal with what it called "ongoing security threats."
After the attacks, the Israeli army sent a serious message to the people of Kfar Hatta, telling them about plans for another attack against what it called Hezbollah military equipment in the town. People who lived in the area marked on the map and nearby buildings were told to leave right away and move at least 300 meters away. They were also warned that staying in the area could put people in danger.
This week, the Lebanese army said that its plan to limit weapons in southern Lebanon, called "Shield of the Nation," has moved on to the next step after what it called a "effective first phase." The army said the first step was to secure key areas and expand control south of the Litani River, but not over areas that are still occupied by Israel.
Lebanese military officials said that work is still being done to clear unexploded ordnance, deal with tunnel networks, and stop armed groups from rebuilding their capabilities. They stressed that the state was committed to restoring stability along the southern border and claiming full control over Lebanese territory.
