The Israeli military conducted a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on March 6, 2024, targeting what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure. This military action followed a drone strike earlier in the day that resulted in one death and injuries to several others, including students on a school bus. The escalation of hostilities highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and militant groups in the region.
The Israeli military announced its intentions to strike several villages in southern Lebanon, urging residents to evacuate the area. The airstrikes commenced shortly thereafter in the villages of Shehour and Deir Kifa, although there were no immediate reports of casualties following these attacks. This series of strikes marks a significant escalation in military operations, which have intensified in recent months.
Earlier on the same day, an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle in the southern Lebanese village of Tiri, killing one individual and injuring 11 others, including students traveling in a nearby bus. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry and state media, the bus was unintentionally caught in the strike. The National News Agency reported that the bus driver and several students sustained injuries.
The Israeli military confirmed that the drone strike had killed a Hezbollah operative, contributing to the rising tensions in the area. In the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, located near Sidon, life appeared largely unaffected, although Lebanese authorities restricted access to journalists. Paramedics were seen searching for remains near a blood-stained wall at the site of a previous strike, while debris and damaged vehicles littered the ground.
In a statement, the Israeli military indicated that it targeted a Hamas training compound that was allegedly being used to prepare attacks against Israel. Hamas responded by denying that the location hit was a training facility. Earlier this year, Palestinian factions within Lebanon’s refugee camps began disarming and handing over weapons to the Lebanese state. The government has expressed intentions to disarm Hezbollah, but the group has rejected these efforts, citing ongoing Israeli occupancy of territory along the border.
The United States has increased its pressure on Lebanon to take a more proactive stance against Hezbollah, recently canceling a planned visit to Washington by Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal. A senior Lebanese military officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that U.S. officials expressed anger over a recent army statement that criticized Israel for exacerbating instability in Lebanon.
The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on October 8, 2023, following a Hamas attack on southern Israel. Hezbollah’s subsequent rocket fire into Israel in solidarity with Hamas led to a widespread Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. This recent war has claimed over 4,000 lives in Lebanon, with significant civilian casualties, and has caused an estimated $11 billion in damage, according to the World Bank. In Israel, the conflict has resulted in 127 deaths, including 80 soldiers.
The situation remains volatile as military operations continue and diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region face significant challenges.
