The Israel Defense Forces has launched an investigation after a strike on a Hezbollah terrorist in the Bint Jbeil area of Southern Lebanon killed several civilians.
According to the military, the terrorist had been operating from within a civilian population, in violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon under the Nov. 27, 2024, ceasefire deal that ended more than a year of war.
“The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize such harm as much as possible,” the army said.
It added: “The IDF is operating against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will continue to act to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel.”
On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces killed a Hezbollah operative in the Arnoun area of Southern Lebanon who had been involved in collecting intelligence on Israeli troops.
A day earlier, the IDF carried out an airstrike in Southern Lebanon that killed Ammar Hayel Qutaybani, the commander of Hezbollah’s “Sinai Outpost.” The military added that a separate strike in the Tebnine area of Southern Lebanon targeted and killed a terrorist in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force.
The situation in Lebanon remains volatile following the end of the truce with Beirut on Feb. 18. Hezbollah began launching missiles and drones at the Jewish state a day after the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
Although Jerusalem has withdrawn most of its ground forces since the war ended, it still controls five strategic sites in Southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have stated that the IDF will retain these positions until the Lebanese army demonstrates it can maintain security.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said on Sept. 9 that the country’s armed forces will have fully disarmed Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon within three months.
