Southern Lebanon witnessed one of its most serious attacks in months on Friday, June 27, after Israeli fighter jets bombarded areas around Nabatieh, a city located deep in Lebanon’s south. Eyewitnesses reported hearing several loud explosions as Israeli aircraft targeted hilltops and underground sites in two separate waves of strikes.

The Israeli military later confirmed the operation, saying they aimed at Hezbollah positions they claimed were being rebuilt in violation of last year’s ceasefire deal. According to Lebanese officials, the assault left one woman dead and over a dozen others injured after a residential building in Nabatieh was hit.

Local sources say the woman, reportedly a German national, had been staying in the apartment complex when it collapsed following the blast. Paramedics rushed several other residents, including those in nearby areas, to hospitals with varying injuries. The situation sparked panic across the city, with families evacuating damaged homes and roads filled with rescue teams.

Reason for the bombing

The Israeli army stated that the operation was aimed at dismantling what they described as a “reconstructed underground defense system” controlled by Hezbollah militants. According to them, Hezbollah has been rebuilding tunnels, weapons depots, and launch sites in the region, despite the ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, which banned such military infrastructure close to the border.

Israeli officials also claimed that the explosion in the civilian building wasn’t directly caused by their missiles but was triggered by hidden Hezbollah weapons stored in the area, causing a secondary blast.

In response, Lebanon’s government strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a direct attack on Lebanese sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun described Israel’s actions as a dangerous violation of the truce, adding that the attack could drag both sides back into open conflict. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also criticized the airstrikes, warning that Lebanon cannot tolerate repeated breaches of the ceasefire while civilians continue to suffer the consequences.