Israeli warplanes launch over 80 airstrikes on southern, eastern Lebanon

By Wassim Seifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) - Israeli warplanes launched over 80 airstrikes on Monday morning, targeting several areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.

According to Lebanon's official news agency, at 6:30 a.m., Israeli fighter jets conducted over 80 airstrikes within a 30-minute period, striking regions and valleys between the towns of Ansar and Zrariyeh in the Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon.

Other areas targeted included the outskirts of the towns of Wa'ba, Jibchit, Sharqia, Al-Namiriyeh, the edges of Kfar Tebnit, Nabatiyeh El Faouqa, Deir El Zahrani, Roumine, Azza, the outskirts of Houmine El Faouqa, the outskirts of Nabatiyeh El Faouqa, and the Al-Jamiat neighborhood.

Additionally, areas surrounding the Kfar Roummane-Midneh highway, the outskirts of Yohmor Al-Shaqif, Arnoun, Jabal Al-Tuffah, Jabal Al-Rihan, the outskirts of Sejoud, and the former Kfar Tebnit crossing point were also hit.

Simultaneously, at 6:30 a.m., Israel carried out a series of heavy airstrikes targeting the Beqaa region, hitting areas around Chmistar, Bodai, Nabi Chit, and the outskirts of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon.

Several airstrikes also targeted the outskirts of Zboud in northern Beqaa, the mountainous regions of Hermel, and Jabal Safi in western Beqaa, according to the news agency.

The report noted that Israeli warplanes also conducted heavy strikes on areas east of Tyre, as well as an airstrike on the Litani River at the southern edge of Dlafy in southern Lebanon.

There have been no reports of casualties thus far, although ambulances were dispatched to the targeted areas, the agency said.

Israeli surveillance drones were reportedly flying over villages in both the western and central regions, extending as far as the Litani River.

Tension has mounted between Hezbollah and Israel following a deadly airstrike on Friday that killed at least 45 people, including children and women, and injured dozens in Beirut’s southern suburb.

Hezbollah confirmed that at least 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Ahmed Wahbi, were killed in the Israeli strike.

The attack came two days after at least 37 people were killed and over 3,000 others injured in two waves of wireless communication device explosions across Lebanon.

While the Lebanese government and Hezbollah blame Israel for the explosions, Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its involvement.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed over 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio​​​​​​​