Messages by Fire… Israel Targets Hezbollah Military Sites in Lebanon

Israeli strikes continue against Hezbollah military positions in southern Lebanon amid open tensions and a persistent risk of escalation.

The latest attack came roughly an hour after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from the United States, where strikes in Lebanon had been suspended during his visit.

The Israeli army stated in a press release: “On Friday, we attacked terrorist infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah in multiple areas of southern Lebanon.”

Specifically, the statement said: “The Israel Defense Forces targeted a training complex used by Hezbollah’s ‘Al-Ridwan Force’ unit, where members of the organization were trained to plan and carry out terrorist operations against IDF forces and Israeli civilians. The training included shooting exercises and preparation for the use of various combat methods.”

The statement added that “military buildings used to store weapons recently employed in terrorist activities by Hezbollah members were also targeted.”

According to the release, “the targeted infrastructure, together with the military exercises conducted by Hezbollah, constitutes a violation of agreements between the State of Israel and Lebanon and poses a direct threat to Israel’s security.”

Lebanon is under increasing pressure from the United States and Israel to disarm Hezbollah in line with the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that “Israel will take necessary measures” if Beirut does not curb the group’s arsenal.

Although the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has been in effect since November 2024, Tel Aviv continues to carry out regular strikes that it says target Hezbollah infrastructure, accusing the group of rearming.

Since the agreement came into force, more than 340 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to a tally compiled by AFP based on the Lebanese Ministry of Health data.

The ceasefire agreement stipulates the halt of hostilities, the withdrawal of Hezbollah north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from positions captured during the last war.

However, Israel maintains five strategic sites within Lebanese territory.