On Sunday, Israel’s Army Radio reported a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah as the Israeli army expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon. This latest development involved extensive aerial and artillery bombardments, intensifying the already volatile situation in the region.

Israeli Ground Operations Intensify

The expansion of Israeli ground operations was marked by artillery shelling that resulted in explosions across the western Galilee region on Saturday night. According to Army Radio, the bombardments were part of efforts to widen the military’s ground campaign in southern Lebanon, which has seen renewed conflict over the past weeks.

At least seven Israeli soldiers were reportedly wounded and transferred to hospitals for treatment. Meanwhile, Israel’s air defense systems intercepted several rockets fired from Lebanon, though one rocket managed to land in an open area. Sirens sounded across parts of the central Galilee, including the cities of Nahariya and Haifa, signaling the increasing tension.

Israeli Airstrikes and Destruction in Southern Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes were reported in several areas of southern Lebanon, with the air force targeting multiple locations. Airstrikes hit the towns of Beit Lif and Ayta al-Shaab, destroying a building in the town of Roumine and reducing the old mosque in Kfar Tibnit to rubble. A three-story building near the Ghabris station along the Zefta-Nabatiyeh highway was also demolished, leading to road closures.

Shortly after 3 a.m., the Israeli air force struck an apartment in a residential building northeast of Sidon. The explosion reverberated throughout the city, though reports indicated the apartment was vacant. Sporadic shelling was also recorded in Kafrkila, Al-Khiyam, and the Marjayoun Plain, while Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew at low altitudes over the Beqaa Valley, reaching as far as Baalbek.

Hezbollah Engages in Fierce Clashes

Hezbollah reported that it had engaged in clashes with Israeli forces near the border village of Ramyah. According to the group, the confrontations lasted about an hour. The group claimed that it had successfully targeted an Israeli armored vehicle with a guided missile near the Ramyah post, resulting in casualties, and also attacked a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Tel Shaar military site with artillery shells.

Reports from Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath indicated that heavy fighting had broken out between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops as they attempted to enter the town of Ramyah. The sound of gunfire echoed between the towns of Ayta al-Shaab and Ramyah, signaling an intensifying conflict on the ground.

Israel Uncovers Hezbollah Weapons Caches

Operating in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army’s 8th Brigade Combat Team and the elite LOTAR counter-terror unit uncovered numerous weapons caches hidden in civilian homes, the military said on Sunday. Kornet anti-tank missiles, believed to be intended for Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, were also found.

During the operation, Israeli forces allegedly discovered tunnel infrastructure in one of the villages, complete with living quarters for Hezbollah fighters. The Israeli army claimed that its ground teams had successfully directed airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of “many” Hezbollah operatives. 

The Israeli army also said that its Air Force had struck around 200 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and deeper into the country in the last 24 hours. Those targets include Hezbollah cells, rocket launchers, command posts, and fighting positions.