Israel-Lebanon Conflict: Military Operations

Israeli forces initiated a significant escalation on August 28, 2026, with artillery and air strikes targeting southern Lebanon and Nabatieh City. Subsequent strikes on August 29 demolished a nursing home, and on August 30, Israel launched aerial attacks in Nabatieh that violated an existing ceasefire. Throughout late August and early September, the conflict intensified through strikes on residential areas, the death of a teenager from unexploded ordnance, and a Lebanese drone crossing into Israel's Galilee Panhandle. On September 3, Israeli forces captured the Ali Al-Taher Ridge stronghold, followed by strikes targeting both southern Lebanon and the central Gaza Strip. In early September, the conflict saw rapid escalation. Israel conducted strikes in the Mifdoun and Beqaa Valley, while Hezbollah responded with drone attacks against Israeli patrols. On September 4, Israeli drone strikes killed two people, and subsequent IDF strikes following a Hezbollah drone attack killed three others. On September 5, Israeli air strikes killed six people, including a child, and a battle erupted over a strategic hill. By September 6, Israeli raids on southern towns and strikes following alleged Hezbollah drone attacks resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. On September 7, Israeli strikes killed at least 13 people, including two children, prompting Lebanon to condemn the actions as a threat to a US-brokered ceasefire, while Israel accused Hezbollah of violating that same ceasefire. Between September 10 and September 11, Israel executed a massive operation at Ali Al-Taher Ridge, using 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy Hezbollah underground infrastructure. This demolition triggered seismic waves measuring between 4.1 and 4.2 on the Richter scale. Following this, Israel announced preparations for additional strikes. On September 14, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a continuation of operations against Hezbollah infrastructure and warned of heavy retaliation after describing the tunnel destruction as a massive victory. On September 15, Israel destroyed a Hezbollah rocket silo, and on September 20, Israeli Merkava tanks entered Deir Mimas, an incursion the Lebanese military labeled a breach of the ceasefire. By late September, the conflict reached a peak of heavy artillery exchange between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel targeting the Bekaa Valley and Hezbollah launching rockets into northern Israel. In October, the violence continued with Israeli strikes in northeastern Lebanon targeting a pro-Iran operative and further munitions explosions near the border. As of October 12, 2026, the conflict remains highly active, characterized by rising casualties from unexploded ordnance and ongoing Israeli military operations across southern Lebanon.