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Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hezbollah Sites in Southern Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Breaches
Israeli warplanes conduct multiple strikes on Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon, escalating tensions despite a year-old ceasefire. UN warns of civilian casualties; diplomatic talks underway.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-12
Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hezbollah Sites in Southern Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Breaches

Israeli warplanes carried out at least a dozen airstrikes across southern Lebanon, targeting what the Israeli military claims are Hezbollah training facilities, further undermining a year-old ceasefire, Lebanon’s state news agency and regional media reported.

The raids struck hills and valleys in the Jezzine and Zahrani areas, including al-Aaichiyeh, between al-Zrariyeh and Ansar, and around Jabal al-Rafie, avoiding densely populated towns, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr.

Israel said the strikes targeted a compound used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force for weapons training, claiming the facilities were being used to plan attacks on Israeli civilians and military personnel. The Israeli military also reported hitting alleged rocket-launching sites and infrastructure used by the group.

Khodr described the ceasefire as “a one-sided truce,” noting that Israel has continued near-daily air operations in Lebanon, maintaining pressure on Hezbollah to disarm. The attacks are part of Israel’s efforts to force the group to relinquish strategic weapons, including long-range missiles and drones, reportedly stored in the Bekaa Valley and further inland.

Hezbollah, however, has refused to give up its arsenal, asserting that surrendering weapons while under Israeli bombardment is unacceptable. Tensions heightened two weeks ago when Israel killed Hezbollah’s top military commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. The group has promised retaliation at a time of its choosing.

The continued bombardments have drawn criticism from the United Nations. A UN report in November indicated that at least 127 civilians, including children, have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect in late 2024, warning that some attacks may constitute “war crimes.”

In response to the ongoing strikes, Lebanon recently dispatched civilian envoys to a joint committee monitoring the ceasefire, signaling a cautious diplomatic engagement with Israel. However, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticized Lebanon’s participation, calling it a “free concession” to Israel.

Lebanese officials have expressed frustration over the near-daily airstrikes. President Joseph Aoun emphasized that Lebanon “has adopted the option of negotiations with Israel” to prevent further conflict, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for stronger verification mechanisms to monitor Israeli violations and Lebanese efforts to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.

Al Jazeera noted that, despite diplomatic engagement, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa cautioned that negotiations do not guarantee a halt to Israeli attacks, leaving Lebanon in a precarious position as tensions continue to simmer.
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Israel

hezbollah

Lebanon

CeasefireViolation
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