Netanyahu Orders Intensified Strikes on Hezbollah Across Lebanon
The BBC reported Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his military to intensify Hezbollah strikes across Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed they had launched a new wave of attacks following the announcement.
IDF Launches Strikes Beyond Southern Lebanon
The IDF said it targeted Hezbollah positions in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and additional locations across the country. The Bekaa Valley sits close to Lebanon’s border with Syria. It marks a significant geographic expansion beyond southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces had largely confined operations since a ceasefire took hold in April.
In a video statement Monday evening, Netanyahu said Israel was engaged in a full war with Hezbollah. He said the military had already eliminated over 600 fighters but argued the campaign now required greater intensity to deliver a decisive outcome.
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Background: A Fragile Ceasefire Under Strain
Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 45-day ceasefire extension earlier this month, though sporadic fighting continued throughout that period. The initial ceasefire agreement was signed on 16 April, following intense hostilities that drew in both countries.
The broader conflict traces back to 28 February, when the US and Israel launched military action against Iran. Hezbollah, acting as an Iranian proxy, responded by firing rockets into Israel after an Israeli strike killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel then launched a sustained air campaign and ground invasion of Lebanon.
Lebanese health authorities say more than 3,000 people have been killed since that fighting began. In the period since the April ceasefire alone, over 400 Lebanese civilians have died. Casualties have included paramedics and emergency service workers. Ten Israeli soldiers have died in the same window.
Israel has issued near-daily evacuation orders to residents across southern Lebanon. More than one million people have already been displaced from their homes.
Iran Deal Complicates Israel’s Strategic Calculus
The escalation arrives at a sensitive diplomatic moment. Iran has insisted that any emerging peace agreement with the United States must encompass a full ceasefire across all active fronts. Israel’s government remains firmly opposed to halting operations against Hezbollah.
Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have reportedly pushed for a high-intensity Lebanon campaign specifically because they fear a US-Iran agreement could constrain Israeli military freedom. Lebanon’s government, meanwhile, says it is actively working to disarm Hezbollah but argues that a ceasefire is a necessary precondition for that process to succeed.
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