The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared on Thursday that it had commenced striking Hezbollah military targets in southern Lebanon.
The IDF reported hitting terrorist infrastructure and several weapon storage facilities belonging to Hezbollah’s Radwan Force on Thursday. The military also alleged that the Radwan Force was working to “reestablish terrorist infrastructure” intended “to harm the State of Israel.”
“The weapon storage facilities were constructed in the center of civilian-populated areas. This is yet another example of the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s strategy to cynically and brutally exploit Lebanese civilians as human shields as it operates out of civilian areas,” the IDF stated in a press release.
An unmanned aircraft reportedly struck a Hezbollah construction unit’s facility near Tyre, a coastal city in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli news outlet Ynet, citing the IDF. Ynet also noted that the IDF claimed the facility was used to produce equipment for restoring terror infrastructure that Israel had destroyed in previous operations.
In preparation for the strikes, the IDF urged residents of al-Taybeh and Tayr Debba to evacuate. Israel included maps marking areas that would become dangerous for civilians once the strikes began.
“You are located near buildings used by Hezbollah, and, for your safety, you are required to evacuate them immediately and stay away from them by a distance of at least 500 meters,” the IDF conveyed in an announcement to the residents of the villages.
This announcement comes after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the [Lebanese government] is dragging its feet.”
“The Lebanese government’s commitment to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons and remove it from southern Lebanon must be realized. Enforcement will continue and deepen — we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north,” Katz added.
The IDF claimed that it had killed “approximately 20 Hezbollah terrorists whose activities violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
On Wednesday, the IDF reported killing Hussein Jaber Dib, a member of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force. Israel alleged that Dib had “advanced terror attacks against Israel and its citizens.”
Additionally, on Monday, the IDF confirmed it had killed two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammad Ali Hadid, a senior member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, was eliminated in Nabatieh, while another operative was struck in Ayta ash Shab after being seen collecting intelligence on Israeli positions, according to the Israeli military.
A senior IDF officer stationed on the northern border told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that Hezbollah remains fully armed and.
“Hezbollah didn’t give up their heavy weapons,” the officer said. “They’re still trained, still financed by Iran, and still trying to re-establish their positions. Our job is to make sure they don’t succeed.”
Over the summer, Israel took an unprecedented step and launched sweeping strikes against Iran, which it dubbed “Operation Rising Lion.” The 12-day war with Iran eventually involved the U.S., which was able to destroy the regime’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.