Israeli airstrikes and ground operations intensified across Lebanon overnight and into Tuesday, killing civilians, destroying homes and infrastructure, and prompting new evacuation warnings, as fighting with Hezbollah escalated on multiple fronts.

The Israeli military urged residents in southern Lebanon to leave several areas, including Maachouk, Tyre and Burj al-Shamali, calling on civilians to move north of the Zahrani River.

“Hezbollah’s activities are forcing us to act with force. We do not intend to harm you,” Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said. “For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately.”

Widespread strikes and casualties

Israeli warplanes carried out a series of strikes across southern Lebanon, beginning in the early hours of the morning. Around 2:00 a.m., a strike destroyed the home of Mohsen Shehab in Zefta, injuring two people.

Shortly afterward, three airstrikes hit Tayr Debba, killing two people and wounding five. Another strike on a home in Selaa killed four people and injured four others, who were taken to hospitals in Tyre.

At dawn, Israeli aircraft struck the home of Yaacoub Ali Hteit in the al-Wadi neighborhood of Dweir, destroying it, before hitting the al-Thaghra area in Harouf about an hour later.

An Israeli drone also struck a house belonging to the Khreish family in Ain Ebel, causing severe damage to the second floor. The family, who were on the ground floor at the time, survived. The home lies on the western edge of the town facing Hanine.

Additional strikes targeted two “Al-Amana” fuel stations — one on the Rashidiyeh road and another in the Burgheliya area — as well as locations in Habboush and Deir Antar. A drone strike hit a building behind a school in Toul, while two houses were struck in Shehabiya and Hanine.

Artillery shelling also hit the outskirts of Qawzah and Ain Ebel, while Naqoura and the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab came under fire at dawn. Israeli warplanes struck Ghassaniyeh, and two overnight strikes hit the area around Sreireh.

Elsewhere, Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike on Bchamoun in the Aley district killed two people and wounded five.

Ground incursions and clashes

On the ground, Israeli forces carried out incursions into southern areas. Shortly after midnight, troops entered Halta in the Arqoub region, raiding homes and opening fire. One civilian, Mohammed Ali Abdel Aal, was killed, while several others were wounded. Troops also abducted multiple civilians before withdrawing.

In a separate incident in the same town, another resident, Mohammed Ali Hatem Abdel Aal, was killed and several others were injured during a raid in which four civilians were reportedly taken.

Heavy clashes erupted overnight between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces in the Qawzah area of Bint Jbeil district, as Israeli troops attempted to advance under artillery and tank fire that also struck Hanine.

Israeli forces also fired illumination flares from Radar Hill over the skies of Jabal al-Sheikh and neighborhoods in Shebaa.

Infrastructure targeted

Israeli warplanes struck the Dallafa Bridge for a second time at dawn, destroying the crossing that links Hasbaya and the western Bekaa to the Jezzine area.

A series of additional airstrikes targeted towns including Srebbine, Haris, Rshaf and Deir Antar in Bint Jbeil district, as well as Touline in Marjayoun.

Strikes reach Beirut

The escalation extended to the capital, where a series of strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs on Monday and early Tuesday; the first such attacks in days on the Hezbollah stronghold. 

The Israeli military said it was “striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut” after issuing evacuation warnings to residents of the southern suburbs.