Israel strikes 45 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in past day — army

Lead

Israeli warplanes and artillery have struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The military said it hit 45 sites belonging to the Shiite group, including command centers, surveillance posts, staging grounds, and about ten weapons depots. The strikes are part of a broader escalation that has seen cross-border exchanges intensify despite a formal ceasefire in place since April.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from the Jerusalem Post and Russia's TASS news agency (which has been carrying IDF statements) broadly align on the scale and nature of the strikes, though exact numbers vary by day and by source. The Jerusalem Post, citing an IDF statement on Monday, reported that the military struck more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure targets across Lebanon, with approximately 85 munitions used, including about 10 command centers and weapons storage sites in the southern city of Tyre. TASS separately reported a strike on 45 facilities in the past 24 hours, as well as earlier strikes on 40 targets over the weekend and 30 targets in another 24-hour period. The differing figures appear to reflect different reporting windows; the underlying narrative from all sources is that Israel is conducting sustained, daily strikes against Hezbollah positions.

One notable discrepancy: TASS, quoting a Hezbollah statement, said its fighters carried out 19 armed operations against Israeli forces in the past day, including drone attacks on a command post and barracks, and an ambush on a mechanized convoy. The Jerusalem Post also reported that Hezbollah fired "dozens of missiles and drones" at northern Israel over the weekend, which prompted the Home Front Command to tighten security guidelines for border communities.

Key Claims

• The IDF struck 45 Hezbollah targets in several areas of southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours, according to an IDF statement reported by TASS. The targets included command centers, surveillance posts, staging grounds, buildings used for military purposes, and approximately ten weapons depots.
• The IDF also said it struck missile launchers and eliminated "terrorists" who posed a threat to its troops, per the same TASS report.
• The Jerusalem Post, citing an IDF announcement on Monday, reported that Israel struck more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure sites across Lebanon, including the Beqaa Valley and Tyre, using approximately 85 munitions. That report mentioned about 10 command centers and weapons storage facilities in Tyre, and said the strikes followed an escalation in Hezbollah drone attacks on Israeli troops.
• Earlier TASS reports said the IDF had struck 40 military targets and eliminated 10 Hezbollah militants over the weekend (May 10), and 30 targets in another 24-hour period (May 18). Both reports cited IDF statements.
• Hezbollah says it carried out 19 armed operations against Israeli forces in the past day, according to a movement statement reported by TASS. The operations included drone strikes on a command post in Bayada and barracks in Yaara, an ambush on an Israeli mechanized convoy in Rashaf, and attacks on a Merkava tank and bulldozers in other municipalities. Hezbollah described these as responses to "enemy ceasefire violations."
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Hezbollah fired dozens of missiles and drones at Israel's north over the weekend, and that the Home Front Command updated its security guidelines for communities along the Lebanese border as a result. The new rules limit outdoor gatherings to 50 people and indoor to 200, close beaches, and cancel educational activities in some areas.
• The IDF has also said it struck an underground weapons production facility in the Beqaa Valley overnight (May 23), according to TASS. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on May 25, ordered the military to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in response to drone attacks on Israeli troops and border communities, as reported by TASS.
• TASS also reported on May 27 that Israel had struck approximately 550 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since the beginning of that week, though that figure has not been confirmed by other outlets in the provided material.

Perspectives

The escalation is viewed differently by the two sides. The Israeli military frames its strikes as preemptive and defensive, saying they target Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters who pose an "imminent threat" to IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. The Jerusalem Post describes the strikes as a response to Hezbollah's drone attacks and rocket barrages, and emphasizes the security measures taken to protect northern communities.

Hezbollah, for its part, frames its own operations as retaliation for Israeli "ceasefire violations" and describes attacks on Israeli forces and military equipment as legitimate acts of resistance. Its statement cited by TASS does not acknowledge any Israeli rationale for the strikes, instead insisting that its fighters are acting to defend Lebanese sovereignty.

The reports from TASS, which often relays IDF statements without additional commentary, present a largely neutral but selective account, relying on official military statements from both sides without independent verification. The Jerusalem Post's coverage is more narrative, linking the strikes to political decisions like Netanyahu's "hit the gas" order.

A formal ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in effect since April 17, but both sides continue to exchange fire along the border. The current escalation suggests that the fragile truce is under severe strain, with each side accusing the other of violations. The situation remains fluid, and casualty figures have not been independently verified.