The Israeli army launched a series of strikes on Monday targeting infrastructure linked to the Al-Qard al-Hasan association in Beirut, which the military says serves as a quasi-bank for Hezbollah.

“Over the coming hours, the Israeli army will take decisive action against the terror infrastructure of Al-Qard al-Hasan, a key element in financing Hezbollah’s operations and undermining the Lebanese economy in support of Iranian interests,” army spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adraee said nearly an hour before the strikes.

Adraee urged residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate, referencing last week’s order to clear four major neighborhoods considered Hezbollah strongholds. 

Earlier, clashes were reported near the Lebanese-Syrian border, as Hezbollah claimed it was fighting Israeli forces who landed in eastern Lebanon by helicopter across the Syrian border, the second such operation since the outbreak of the latest conflict with Israel.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported “fierce clashes” in the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet as Hezbollah fighters sought to repel Israeli troops attempting to advance. Hezbollah claimed it had engaged the forces that carried out a landing in the area. and downed an Israeli helicopter. The Israeli military said it was “unaware” of any such claims, and Hebrew media reports have described them as unverified.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it detected “the infiltration of approximately 15 Israeli enemy helicopters” from Syria and that its fighters were engaging the helicopters and the incoming force, with the confrontation ongoing.

Following these events, Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes early Monday on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting the Ghobeiry district after two prior drone strikes. Another air raid was carried out shortly before dawn. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted “Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.”

Earlier Monday, Israeli warplanes also struck several towns in southern Lebanon, including Srifa, Tayr Debba, Qlaileh, Jouaiya, and Froun.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported that the strike on Tayr Debba in the Tyre district killed three people and wounded 15 others, according to an initial toll.

Moreover, the Israeli military announced on Monday that it had intensified its operations in southern Lebanon overnight as part of an “enhanced forward defense posture” after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel over the past week.

Troops from the 7th Armored Brigade, operating under the 36th Division, conducted a raid in the Rab al-Thalathine area, located west of the Israeli border town of Misgav Am. According to the Israeli army, the operation aimed to locate and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives in the Lebanese village.

The military said the ground push was preceded by a series of air and artillery strikes targeting the area.

“This operation is part of the effort to establish a forward defense that will provide an additional layer of security for residents in the north,” the Israeli army said.

Over the past week, Israeli forces said they had struck more than 700 targets across Lebanon, including roughly 120 in the past 24 hours. Among the targets, more than 30 multi-story buildings in Beirut reportedly used by Hezbollah were destroyed.

The army estimated that its operations had killed over 300 members of Hezbollah and other armed groups.