Israeli forces conducted a “large bombing operation” in the southern town of Kfar Kila during the early hours of the morning, causing tremors felt in neighboring towns, according to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA).
Additionally, Israeli forces are reportedly conducting extensive combing operations in the southern town of Khiam, using heavy and medium machine guns, according to Al Jazeera.
These developments come after overnight Israeli airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Janta in the eastern Baalbek region and areas near southern Nabatieh, specifically between Houmine al-Fawqa and Deir al-Zahrani, with additional detonations reported near Aita al-Shaab.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted sites it had previously flagged as threats to ceasefire monitors.
“Among the targets struck were a rocket launcher site, a military installation, and routes along the Syria-Lebanon border used to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah,” it claimed.
None of the reports confirmed whether there were casualties.
The Israeli army also issued a warning on Sunday, urging displaced civilians not to return to their homes in 62 villages in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreement. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee shared the warning on his X account:
“A new reminder for the residents of southern Lebanon… At this stage, it is prohibited for you to return to your homes south of this line until further notice. Anyone crossing south of this line puts themselves at risk.”
Late Sunday, the General Directorate of Lebanese Civil Defense announced in a statement that it had recovered the bodies and remains of 11 people from the town of Tayr Harfa and five from Alma al-Shaab. These remains were handed over to authorities for DNA testing to confirm their identities.
On Friday, January 10, Israel also carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing five people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military claimed it targeted a Hezbollah weapons truck but has not provided evidence to support this allegation.
The Israeli strikes on Lebanon occur just two weeks ahead of the January 26 deadline for implementing the November ceasefire, with both sides trading accusations of violations.
Lebanese authorities report at least 472 Israeli ceasefire violations, resulting in 32 deaths and 39 injuries.
Earlier this month, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon accused Israel of a “flagrant violation” of the Security Council resolution that underpins the ceasefire agreement.
Despite this, the Israeli military stated it is operating “in accordance with the ceasefire understandings.”
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah is required to dismantle its remaining military infrastructure in southern Lebanon and pull its forces back north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the border.
The ceasefire agreement also requires Israeli forces to leave Lebanon within 60 days, by January 26. However, recent reports have suggested that Israel plans to maintain a permanent presence in the country.
Despite these reports, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein stated on January 6 that the Israeli military will fully withdraw from southern Lebanon.
“The Israeli military started its withdrawal from Naqoura, most of the western sector and back into Israel proper today, south of the Blue Line,” he said on January 6.
“These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are out of Lebanon completely.”
However, the U.S. official did not provide a specific timeline for the full withdrawal.
According to data from the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 4,068 people, including women, children, and health workers, have been killed since Israel’s onslaught on Lebanon began on October 8, 2023. Additionally, 16,668 others have been injured.