Israel claims strikes on south Lebanon targeted Hezbollah infrastructure

TNA Staff

The New Arab  /  January 11, 2026

The Israeli army carried out dozens of strikes on south Lebanon on Sunday, including a heavy raid on one village following an evacuation warning.

The Israeli army struck an area of southern Lebanon on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning, Lebanese state media said, with the military saying it attacked Hezbollah infrastructure.

The strikes came days after the Lebanese military said it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River, the first phase of a nationwide plan, though Israel has called those efforts insufficient.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported that “enemy warplanes launched more than 10 raids on the threatened location” in the town of Kafr Hatta, which lies north of the Litani, noting “significant damage” to buildings there.

The Israeli military said it was “striking Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas” shortly after issuing an evacuation warning for Kafr Hatta.

Israel has kept up regular strikes in parts of Lebanon despite a US-brokered November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between it and Hezbollah. Israeli troops also occupy five south Lebanon hilltops deemed strategic.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army announced it had carried out strikes on what it said was Hezbollah infrastructure elsewhere in the south “in response to Hezbollah’s continuous violations of the ceasefire understandings”.

The NNA reported “a series of violent Israeli strikes” on Jezzine, Mahmudiyeh and Al-Dimashqiyeh, as well as “more than 10 strikes” on Al-Bureij, all in southern Lebanon.

Most of the targeted areas are located north of the Litani River, where the second phase of the military’s disarmament efforts is expected to begin.

Under heavy US pressure and fearing expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming the Iran-backed militant group, which was badly weakened by its war with Israel.

Lebanon’s army said Thursday that it had “achieved the objectives of the first phase” of its disarmament plan, covering the area south of the Litani – around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border – with the intention to extend it to the rest of the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in response that the ceasefire “states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed”.

Hezbollah has slammed the government’s disarmament plan and has reiterated its refusal to surrender its weapons. Beirut insists on ending military dualism in Lebanon, saying the state must have a monopoly on all arms.