South on the Brink of Explosion: Israel Escalates, Ali al-Taher in Target of Major Operation

On Monday evening, southern Lebanon witnessed a widespread military escalation, with continued Israeli air raids, artillery shelling, and machine-gun sweeps, alongside explosions and demolitions affecting numerous buildings and homes in southern villages and towns.

In the western sector, Israeli warplanes conducted two waves of attacks on the town of Al-Munassouri, followed by heavy artillery fire on the town, with additional air strikes and fresh artillery targeting recorded later.

Israeli machine-gun sweeps were also reported toward the areas of Biyot al-Siyad and Al-Munassouri, while drones maintained intense flight activity over several southern regions.

Around the town of Aytoun, Israeli artillery shelling hit the outskirts, coinciding with machine-gun sweeps directed at the town, while similar sweeps were recorded toward Haddatha.

In Nabatiye district, Israeli aerial drones dropped incendiary bombs on fields in Doha Kfar Raman, triggering a fire that spread across the area, before two Israeli airstrikes targeted the site.

In Bani Hayyan, an Israeli explosion struck the municipal building, as destruction and demolition operations continued across multiple homes and structures in southern villages.

Zoutrat al-Sharqiya also saw a notable escalation, with the town’s outskirts subjected to artillery fire, followed by a violent Israeli demolition operation in the area, accompanied by the sound of a massive explosion within the town.

Similarly, in Barashit, Israeli forces carried out a demolition operation as part of broader destruction efforts across several southern zones.

In another development, the National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone was shot down near the outskirts of Zabqin village, while Israeli drones flew at low altitude over the hills of Mount Ali al-Taher and its surrounding areas.

The military escalation comes at a time when the Ali al-Taher area is drawing significant Israeli and American attention, amid media reports of Hezbollah fighters operating in the region.

According to a correspondent for “Al Jadeed” in Washington, citing sources, there is currently no green light from the United States for any Israeli military strike on the Ali al-Taher area, though Washington expresses understanding of such a move.

According to media sources, U.S. intervention helped halt the Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon over the weekend, and Washington has not authorized Israel to carry out a large-scale operation in the Ali al-Taher highlands.

Similarly, sources told “Al-Hadath” channel that General Joseph Votel, head of the UN ceasefire committee in Lebanon, did not succeed in expanding the pilot zones, noting that no clear framework yet exists regarding which countries will participate in verifying Hezbollah’s disarmament in Lebanon.

These sources also stated that Hezbollah has not yet received a green light from Iran to conduct operations against Israel.

Conversely, Israeli media reported assessments indicating that Hezbollah fighters stationed on Mount Ali al-Taher—whom Israel claims are surrounded—have only limited supplies.

The rapidly unfolding field developments reflect ongoing tension in the south, marked by multiple forms of targeting including airstrikes, artillery bombardment, machine-gun sweeps, incendiary bomb drops, and building demolitions and explosions, while attention remains fixed on the Ali al-Taher highlands and the possibility of a broader military operation.

SBI