Widespread Military Escalation in Southern Lebanon: Infiltration Attempts in Bint Jbeil and Intense Rocket Barrages Towards Galilee

Areas of southern Lebanon witnessed a new wave of intense field escalation today, Friday, as Israeli forces intensified their aerial raids concurrently with repeated attempts to infiltrate by land on several fronts. Field sources reported that warplanes carried out a series of intense raids, the most violent of which focused on the town of Srifa, part of the Tyre district, amidst continuous overflights by fighter jets in Lebanese airspace.\n\nThrough this escalation, the occupation forces seek to exert military pressure to displace the remaining residents in the areas south of the Litani and Zahrani rivers. The aerial operations also aim to cut off logistical supply lines for Hezbollah fighters, especially in the central sector, which is witnessing the most intense clashes since the start of the ground offensive.\n\nField data indicates that the city of Bint Jbeil has become a main axis for current Israeli military operations, as the Israeli army attempts to encircle it from different directions. Attempts to advance are taking place through the towns of Ainata and Aitaroun to the east, and Konin to the north, in addition to the axes of Ain Ebel, Beit Leif, and Rashaf from the western side.\n\nIn response, Hezbollah announced its confrontation of the advance attempts, confirming the targeting of an Israeli military bulldozer with a guided missile at the Liberation Triangle, which connects Bint Jbeil with Maroun al-Ras. The resistance is engaged in fierce confrontations to prevent the attacking forces from gaining control over the strategic entrances to the city and the surrounding border villages.\n\nIn the western sector, Israeli forces are focusing their efforts on establishing a foothold in the towns of Bayada and Shama due to their commanding position overlooking the coastal road. These areas are considered strategic points that allow the occupation to monitor field movements and secure corridors for its ground forces advancing deeper into Lebanese territory.\n\nRegarding the rocket response, Hezbollah has intensified rocket barrages towards the settlement of Kiryat Shmona and various areas in the Galilee Panhandle since the morning hours. Military sources observed at least five rocket salvos within a few hours, targeting assembly points and military supply depots that Israel has converted into launching centers for its operations.\n\nHezbollah statements confirmed the targeting of gatherings of occupation soldiers at the Misgav Am site and the Malkia settlement with direct rocket strikes that achieved precise hits. The operations also included the use of suicide drones that targeted a vital communications node in the settlement of Meilya, reflecting a diversity in offensive tactics.\n\nSources reported that these attacks come within the framework of Hezbollah's strategy to pressure the Israeli government and displace residents of the north in response to the targeting of civilians in the south and the southern suburb. The pace of launches remains high despite the intensity of Israeli raids targeting presumed launch platforms and weapons depots.\n\nFor its part, the Israeli army acknowledged detecting the launch of approximately 150 rocket projectiles from Lebanon during the past twenty-four hours, in addition to aerial incursions by drones. The scope of targets expanded to include deeper areas in the north such as Haifa, Tiberias, Acre, and Nahariya, targeting facilities related to Israeli military industries.\n\nIn the city of Khiam, a cautious calm prevails, interspersed with intermittent artillery shelling, while Israeli forces continue their attempts to infiltrate some neighborhoods without full control over them. The occupation forces in these areas resort to scorched-earth tactics by blowing up residential blocks and bulldozing homes in the towns of Naqoura, Taybeh, and Deir Seryan.\n\nIn the capital Beirut, Israeli drones flew at low altitude over the southern suburb, coinciding with the issuance of forced evacuation orders for several residential neighborhoods. The sound of an explosion resulting from a missile launched by a warplane was heard, which fell in the area amidst difficult weather conditions and dense fog that prevented accurate assessment of the damage.\n\nPolitically, the intensity of official statements decreased due to the official holiday, but Lebanese circles are concerned about Israel's attempts to impose a buffer zone in the south. The Lebanese government warned that these steps constitute a blatant violation of national sovereignty and a breach of international conventions regulating borders between states.\n\nThe Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Najib Mikati, made urgent international calls, including to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, to discuss ways to stop the escalation. Beirut demands intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent the ground operations from turning into a permanent occupation of parts of Lebanese territory, emphasizing its adherence to relevant international resolutions.\n\n"The Israeli army adopts the tactic of blowing up homes and bulldozing residential neighborhoods in a number of border towns to impose a new reality on the ground.