The Israeli army on Friday detonated explosives planted inside homes in three Lebanese border villages amid ongoing clashes with Hezbollah forces, Lebanese state media reported.
The explosions took place in the villages of Yaroun, Aitaroun, and Maroun al-Ras, located in the Bint Jbeil region, a hotspot in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), the Israeli military targeted residential homes in these villages as part of its ongoing efforts to push Hezbollah forces away from the border. The Israel-Hezbollah war, which erupted more than a month ago, has seen heavy fighting and bombings in the region.
“Since this morning, the Israeli enemy’s army has been carrying out bombing operations inside the villages of Yaroun, Aitaroun, and Maroun al-Ras,” the NNA reported, adding that the aim was to destroy homes in the area.
In a separate development, Israeli troops conducted a raid in the nearby town of Bint Jbeil, the NNA added. This follows claims by Hezbollah that its forces had ambushed Israeli troops attempting to infiltrate Yaroun. The Iran-backed militant group said it had carried out eight operations since Wednesday targeting Israeli forces near Maroun al-Ras.
Friday’s explosions are part of a broader Israeli strategy to secure its northern border with Lebanon, following weeks of cross-border skirmishes. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in late September when Israel expanded its military operations beyond Gaza, where it was fighting Hamas, to focus on its northern frontier with Lebanon.
Last month, Israeli forces also demolished buildings in at least seven other villages near the border. Footage verified by AFP showed massive blasts in the village of Mais al-Jabal, reducing homes to rubble. Similarly, Israel’s Channel 12 aired footage last month showing one of its reporters blowing up a building while embedded with soldiers in the village of Aita al-Shaab.
Hezbollah has framed its involvement as support for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group engaged in fighting with Israel in Gaza. The Israeli military, however, has continued its ground offensive in southern Lebanon, intensifying airstrikes and conducting raids to counter Hezbollah’s influence near the border.
