Tensions rise as Israel strikes Southern Lebanon

[MIDDLE EAST] Lebanon’s president has described the disarmament of Hezbollah as a “delicate” matter, as officials reported Israeli airstrikes that killed two individuals in southern Lebanon on April 20. The attacks came in defiance of a ceasefire agreement reached in November, which had aimed to halt over a year of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah—a group that the United States has continued to urge the Lebanese government to disarm.

Israel’s military claimed it had “eliminated” two Hezbollah members and struck sites associated with the group’s military infrastructure. Hezbollah is backed by Iran and classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S., among other countries.

President Joseph Aoun emphasized the complexity of consolidating arms under state control, calling it “a sensitive, delicate issue that is fundamental to preserving civil peace.” He said such a move requires “consideration and responsibility.”

Speaking to reporters, Aoun affirmed Lebanon’s intention to uphold a state monopoly on weapons, but noted that it must await “appropriate circumstances,” adding, “nobody is speaking to me about timing or pressure.”

He cautioned that domestic disputes in Lebanon must be handled through “conciliatory, non-confrontational dialogue and communication,” warning that otherwise, “we will lead Lebanon to ruin.”

Hezbollah, which has long held a powerful position in Lebanon, suffered significant losses during its most recent confrontation with Israel, which involved a ground incursion and sustained bombardment over two months, severely impacting the group’s leadership.

Originally established in the 1980s as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation, Hezbollah has since transformed into a major political and military force in Lebanon. The group holds seats in parliament and operates an extensive network of social services, particularly in Shiite communities. Its dual role as a militia and political actor has complicated efforts to assert government control over arms and national defense.

Lebanon’s approach to Hezbollah is also shaped by broader regional influences. The group maintains strong ties with Iran, receiving financial and military backing as part of Tehran’s regional agenda. Domestically, Hezbollah’s support for the Assad regime in Syria’s ongoing civil war has drawn increasing criticism, with many Lebanese viewing the group’s foreign involvement as a threat to national stability.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), present since 1978, remains active in overseeing the ceasefire along the Lebanon-Israel border. UN officials have repeatedly warned of the dangers posed by continued clashes and have called for full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates the disarmament of all non-state armed groups in Lebanon.

On April 20, Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle in Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad, an area located inland between Sidon and Tyre, killing one person and injuring two others. A separate strike later that day hit a home in the village of Hula, killing one individual.

Israel’s military stated it had killed the deputy commander of a Hezbollah unit involved in smuggling weapons and funds into Lebanon to help rearm the organization. The statement did not specify the location of the strike.

Later, Israeli forces reported eliminating another Hezbollah operative in Hula, and hitting “launchers and a (Hezbollah) military infrastructure site” in the Nabatiyeh region. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported a barrage of Israeli air raids in Iqlim al-Tuffah, a mountainous area east of Sidon. Additional strikes were also reported in Jezzine and near Arnoun, closer to the Israeli border.

The events of April 20 marked one of the deadliest flare-ups in southern Lebanon since the November truce. Analysts have warned that the renewed violence could jeopardize fragile diplomatic efforts between Lebanon and Israel. Many residents in the south, still recovering from past conflicts, have voiced concern over the absence of a lasting resolution.

Despite the ceasefire agreed on November 27, Israel has continued to carry out airstrikes in Lebanon, although the April 20 attacks were notably more extensive. The Lebanese presidency said President Aoun had been in contact with the army’s top commander regarding “the Israeli attacks on a number of southern villages.”

Two days earlier, on April 18, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared that the group “will not let anyone disarm” it. He said Hezbollah was open to discussions about a “defence strategy,” but not “under the pressure of occupation” by Israel.

A senior Hezbollah figure also said the group would not entertain talks on surrendering its arsenal until Israel fully withdrew from Lebanese territory in the south. As part of the truce, Hezbollah was expected to pull its fighters north of the Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the southern region. In turn, Israel was to withdraw its troops, though it has maintained positions in five strategic locations.

Lebanese forces have been deploying in areas vacated by Israeli troops and have begun dismantling Hezbollah’s southern military posts. Separately, the Lebanese army reported the deaths of an officer and two soldiers in the Nabatiyeh district on April 20, when munitions they were transporting exploded in Braiqaa.

President Aoun paid tribute to the fallen servicemen, saying they died “while performing their mission to preserve security and stability.” In a separate operation, the army said it had seized rockets and launchers in the Sidon-Zahrani area and arrested several individuals allegedly planning to launch attacks on Israeli-controlled territory. Authorities did not confirm whether the suspects were affiliated with any specific group.