Israel carried out fresh strikes across southern Lebanon

2026, May 28

Lebanon

Israel carried out fresh strikes across southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation orders for large areas south of the Zahrani River, warning residents the region had become a “combat zone.”

The Israeli military said the operations targeted positions linked to Hezbollah, including drone launch sites, command centers, and weapons infrastructure. Airstrikes were reported around Tyre, Nabatieh, the Bekaa Valley, and several border villages.

Residents were instructed to evacuate northward toward Sidon before the strikes began. Lebanese officials and humanitarian groups said the warnings triggered another wave of displacement in a country already struggling with more than a million displaced people since fighting escalated earlier this year.

The escalation comes despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced in April. Israel and the United States maintain the ceasefire does not fully restrict Israeli operations against Hezbollah, while Lebanon, Iran and Hezbollah accuse Israel of repeatedly violating the agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF was expanding operations to create a deeper security zone in southern Lebanon and protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s government warned that continued bombardment risks dragging the entire region into a broader war already involving Iran, the United States, Gaza and Gulf states.