The Israeli Air Force conducted its largest wave of airstrikes on Lebanon in months on Tuesday, targeting 100 sites within 10 minutes, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to operations against Hezbollah.
The coordinated assault, reported by MTV Lebanon, struck targets across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and areas south of Beirut. Israeli military officials described the operation as targeting weapons depots, command centers, and what they termed "terrorist infrastructure" associated with Hezbollah.
"The ceasefire with Iran is specific and limited," Netanyahu said in a statement released early Tuesday. "Israel retains full freedom of action against Iranian proxies that threaten our security. Hezbollah is not covered by this agreement."
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The exclusion of Hezbollah from the ceasefire terms was a critical Israeli demand during negotiations, reflecting Jerusalem's long-standing position that the Lebanese militant group represents a distinct and immediate threat separate from direct Iranian action.
The strikes come against the backdrop of ongoing low-intensity conflict along Israel's northern border that has persisted since October 2023. Hezbollah has launched sporadic rocket attacks into northern Israel throughout the Gaza conflict, prompting Israeli retaliation and creating what military analysts describe as a in the broader regional confrontation.
