Reports of Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Unifil, reports that Israel now operates from nearly 30 military positions in south Lebanon, including eight fortified bases. The UN spokesperson, Kandice Ardiel, stated that Israel previously had a presence in five fortified positions near and north of the Blue Line, but now three new bases have been established north of the Blue Line.

The older bases were formed during the 2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The three new bases are located in Khiam, Maroun El Ras, and Maiss El Jabal and were created following the resumption of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, which occurred after Hezbollah retaliated for the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

These bases are fortified with earthworks, observation posts, and restricted access via barriers. Unifil has also observed around 20 other temporary Israeli military positions in the so-called security buffer zone. These ad hoc positions differ from the bases, as troops move in and out of them, often utilizing existing infrastructure.

The proliferation of these fortified bases and outposts indicates an increasingly entrenched Israeli military presence in Lebanese territory. Despite US-brokered negotiations aimed at securing an Israeli withdrawal from the south and Hezbollah’s disarmament, allowing Lebanese forces to assume control, Israel continues to expand the zone's boundaries.

Israel has recently advanced beyond its "yellow line" through tactics like depopulation, demolition, and blocking roads using remote-operated bulldozers. This has led to heightened tensions between Israeli and Lebanese forces, with recent incidents such as the withdrawal of Lebanese troops from a checkpoint at Deir Mimas and Israeli raids on homes in the village of Deir Mimas.