Lebanese state media reported that the Israeli army detonated explosives inside houses in three border villages on Friday amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
According to the National News Agency (NNA), Israeli forces targeted homes in Yaroun, Aitaroun, and Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil area, where fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli troops has intensified more than a month into Israel’s ground operations aimed at pushing the Iran-backed group away from the border.
The Israeli army also conducted a raid in Bint Jbeil, as reported by NNA, following Hezbollah’s claim that it had “ambushed” Israeli ground forces attempting to infiltrate Yaroun. Hezbollah stated it had conducted eight operations since Wednesday targeting Israeli forces near Maroun al-Ras.
Friday’s detonations follow a pattern of similar incidents in the border region. Last month, Israeli troops reportedly demolished buildings in at least seven border villages, with footage verified by AFP showing large explosions in Mais al-Jabal, reducing homes to rubble. Israel’s Channel 12 also aired footage of one of its presenters detonating a building while embedded with Israeli soldiers in Aita al-Shaab.
The conflict, which expanded in September when Israel broadened its operations from Gaza to Lebanon’s southern border, follows a year of cross-border exchanges. Hezbollah has claimed it is acting in support of Hamas in Gaza.