Israeli military incursions and airstrikes in southern Lebanon are operating as a preliminary phase for a broader military battle, according to security sources in southern Lebanon speaking to the press.
Operations Target Strategic Heights Around Ali Al-Tahir
Military operations and airstrikes are concentrated across three main axes in southern Lebanon. In the eastern sector, strikes and artillery shelling focus on the strategic Ali Al-Tahir heights east of Nabatieh, an area Israeli forces have targeted for control over the last 10 weeks. Security sources report that the heavy bombardment, which includes airstrikes targeting the surrounding hills of Dabsheh and Tahra—locations previously held by Israel before its 2000 withdrawal—aims to completely isolate the strategic high ground from its surroundings. This isolation strategy seeks to prevent movement on the edges and carve out a geographic buffer of more than three kilometers between the ridge and vital areas where some residents have returned.
Over a span of one week, repeated airstrikes hit houses under construction and villas in Doueir Kaouthariyet el-Rizz north of Ali Al-Tahir and Nabatieh el-Fawqa to the southwest, while demolition operations continued in Kfar Tebnit directly west of the ridge. The military has continuously bombarded the 1.5-kilometer-long ridge with artillery and phosphorus shells, alongside dropping explosives via drones. Lebanese media reported additional artillery shelling targeting the outskirts of Mifdoun alongside machine-gun fire, following a series of pre-dawn airstrikes by warplanes on the Ali Al-Tahir heights.
Middle Sector Incursions and Outposts
Operations extend beyond the eastern sector into the middle sector, where Israeli forces have pushed into four towns that were not occupied when a ceasefire agreement took effect last June. These towns—Beit Yahoun, Baraachit, Haddatha, and Ayta el-Jabal—serve as key routes toward the occupied city of Bint Jbeil and sit along the third tier of villages stretching inland. Security sources warn that these movements spanning roughly five kilometers from Baraachit to Haddatha signal preparations for a wider multi-axis battle, rather than an operation limited strictly to Ali Al-Tahir, with the objective of establishing a buffer zone overlooking nearby valleys like Wadi Salouki.
While no permanent military positions have been established in those specific middle-sector towns, the military has set up 17 new positions deeper inside Lebanese territory since the resumption of fighting on March 2. These add to six positions established following the 2000 and 2024 conflicts. Airstrikes, drone monitoring, and artillery fire continue across the area, with recent drone strikes hitting targets near Sribin, Rachaf, Haris, and Yater, while a Merkava tank targeted the western-sector town of Al-Mansouri.
Did You Know? The strategic hills of Dabsheh and Tahra surrounding Ali Al-Tahir were previously under Israeli military control until the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon in the year 2000.
Expert Insight: The systematic targeting of connecting routes, residential structures, and hilltops reflects a calculated operational cadence designed to sever logistical lines and secure elevation advantages ahead of potential ground maneuvers. By focusing on multi-axis pressure from the eastern heights to the middle-sector corridors, these preparatory strikes establish the geographic prerequisites for an expanded theater of operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main areas targeted by Israeli operations in southern Lebanon?
How many military positions has the Israeli army established inside Lebanon?
According to security sources, the military has established 17 positions in the deep interior since March 2, adding to six positions set up following the 2024 conflict.
What is the purpose of the operations around Ali Al-Tahir, according to security sources?
Security sources state that the airstrikes, demolitions, and shelling act as a preliminary phase for a future military operation aimed at completely isolating the strategic ridge from its surroundings and creating a buffer zone.
What measures do you think local communities can take to monitor and adapt to shifting security conditions in southern Lebanon?