IRIA News

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The Israeli military carried out a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon on November 6, 2025, in what it said was an attempt to prevent Hezbollah from rearming.

The strikes hit the towns of Kfar Dounine, Tayr Debba, and Zawtar al-Sharqiya, roughly an hour after Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings to residents. No casualties were reported at the time of publication.

The Israeli army described the attacks as targeting Hezbollah’s “military infrastructure.” An Israeli military spokesperson published maps showing the intended targets and urged civilians to move at least 500 meters away from the designated buildings.

The military said the strikes were part of ongoing operations to “defend Israel’s borders and ensure full enforcement of the ceasefire agreement.”

Ceasefire Violations and Rising Tensions

The strikes come despite a ceasefire deal signed nearly a year ago that ended 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the November 2024 agreement, both sides pledged to halt hostilities, Hezbollah agreed to disarm, and Israel committed to withdrawing its remaining forces from Lebanese territory. Israel, however, continues to hold five positions in southern Lebanon.

Thursday’s attacks were notable for their scale and the public warnings issued beforehand, an uncommon step in Israel’s near-daily strikes on Lebanese territory. The Israeli military also carried out separate raids in Lebanon’s Tyre district, claiming to have hit members of Hezbollah’s construction unit.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency confirmed strikes near Toura, Aabbasiyyeh, and Taybeh, as well as low-altitude Israeli overflights above Beirut’s southern suburbs, but reported no casualties.

Hezbollah’s Response and Political Reactions

In response to the escalation, Hezbollah reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire but emphasized its “legitimate right to resist Israeli occupation.” The group accused Israel of exploiting Lebanon’s internal divisions while continuing attacks under the guise of security operations.

“We reaffirm our legitimate right to defend ourselves against an enemy that imposes war on our country and does not cease its attacks,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

It also rejected the prospect of direct negotiations with Israel, which had been suggested by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as part of an international push by the United States and Egypt for political dialogue.

Hezbollah said it supports the Lebanese army but condemned any moves toward direct talks, calling them a “dangerous departure from national principles.” The group has launched only one cross-border attack since the ceasefire went into effect in December 2024, following the assassination of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024.

Israel’s Position and Warnings

Israeli officials have accused Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its military capabilities in defiance of the truce. “Israel will continue to defend all of its borders, and we continue also to insist on the full enforcement of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel,” government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza, warned last week that Israel could intensify operations in Lebanon. “Maximum enforcement will continue and even intensify; we will not allow any threat to the residents of the north,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a separate statement.

The Israeli security cabinet is expected to meet on Thursday evening to discuss Lebanon. According to Israeli officials cited by local media, the army has warned that Hezbollah is attempting to “rearm and reestablish its offensive capabilities.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar added that Israel “cannot bury its head in the sand” while Hezbollah “intensifies its efforts to rebuild.”

Lebanon’s Disarmament Efforts and Internal Strains

The Lebanese government has pledged to complete the disarmament of Hezbollah’s remaining caches in the south by the end of this year. Officials claim that around 85 percent of the group’s weapons have already been confiscated.

However, Lebanon has warned that pushing too fast on disarmament could inflame internal tensions and destabilize the country’s fragile political balance.

President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli strikes and accused Israel of “undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty” after its forces crossed the border last week, killing a municipal worker during an overnight raid. In response, Aoun instructed the Lebanese army to confront any future Israeli incursions.

While the Lebanese Armed Forces have mostly stayed out of the conflict with Israel, Aoun, a former army commander, has signaled a tougher stance. The move follows growing public anger over repeated Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and territory.

Regional Implications and the Fragile Ceasefire

The latest escalation underscores the fragility of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended more than a year of cross-border hostilities following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. Under the deal, Hezbollah was to move heavy weapons north of the Litani River while Israel was to halt offensive operations and gradually withdraw from occupied areas.

Nearly a year later, both sides accuse the other of violating the accord. Israel maintains troops in several Lebanese positions and continues regular air raids, while Hezbollah argues it cannot disarm as long as Israeli forces remain on Lebanese soil.

The United Nations continues to monitor compliance through a coordination mechanism involving France and the U.S., though direct communication between Lebanon and Israel remains limited.

With tensions escalating and no visible diplomatic breakthrough, analysts warn that the fragile truce may collapse altogether if current hostilities continue. Both sides appear determined to maintain military pressure, even as they publicly reaffirm their commitment to the ceasefire,  leaving the region once again on the brink of renewed conflict.