The IDF acknowledged carrying out dozens of airstrikes across southern Lebanon overnight and Saturday morning, but declined to comment on fighting near the Ali al-Taher ridge south of Nabatiyeh, blaming attacks there on Hezbollah ceasefire violations. The acknowledgment follows sustained Israeli air and ground operations against Hezbollah infrastructure, as The Zioneer reported earlier today with over 50 launches targeting troops.
The IDF confirmed on Saturday evening that it carried out 'dozens' of airstrikes across southern Lebanon overnight and into the morning. The military declined to comment on clashes near the Ali al-Taher ridge south of Nabatiyeh, instead attributing any fighting there to Hezbollah ceasefire violations. This acknowledgment came hours after The Zioneer reported at 15:18 Jerusalem that the IDF had already struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in response to over 50 launches at troops overnight.
The thread began Saturday at 11:54 Jerusalem when a senior Israeli military source told Reuters that Hezbollah fired over 50 rockets and mortars at Israeli forces — unconfirmed by the IDF at that point. By 11:54 the same day (multiple versions at the same minute mark), the IDF officially confirmed the launches and said it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets, including rocket launchers and command posts. By 15:30 Jerusalem, Hezbollah issued a statement claiming it fired at soldiers attempting to advance on the Ali al-Taher ridge, which the IDF says is under its control. The latest Saturday evening confirmation adds a military attribution of the Ali al-Taher clashes to Hezbollah's ceasefire violations, while declining operational detail.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday Jun 19 (17:14 Jerusalem), the IDF said it retains full freedom of action after striking at least 10 sites in southern Lebanon following the declared ceasefire. A later report at 18:45 Jerusalem Friday quoted the IDF spokesman accusing Hezbollah of hundreds of attacks since the truce, saying ongoing operations are necessary. The IDF has maintained throughout that Hezbollah's violations justify continued strikes.
What remains open: the IDF has not elaborated on the nature of any ground engagement at Ali al-Taher, and no casualty figures for either side have been released since the overnight barrage. Hezbollah's claim of IDF advances there is not directly addressed by the military.
4 developments
- DevelopingIDF strikes multiple southern Lebanon targets overnight, Lebanese media report
- StrongIDF ground troops battle Hezbollah at Ali Taher ridge, southern Lebanon
- DevelopingIDF pushes into three new axes in southern Lebanon, sources report
- StrongIDF maintains strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake