Israel Strikes Terror Targets in Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah Refuses to Disarm
Israeli Defense Minister Katz: “We will not return to the reality of October 7 and will continue to take decisive action against any violations.”
The Israeli fighter jets struck terrorist targets in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah refused to demilitarize in violation of a U.S.-backed agreement.
“A short while ago, the IDF struck a military structure and an underground infrastructure at a Hezbollah site, in which military activities were identified, in the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Friday evening, “The presence of the site and the activity at the site constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck a Hezbollah facility and a tunnel belonging to the terror group near the Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon a short while ago, the IDF says.
The military says the existence of the site is a violation of the ceasefire between Israel and… pic.twitter.com/RNFoBbJw1W
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) August 15, 2025
On Friday, the Iranian proxy terrorist group rejected a call by Lebanon’s government to disarm under an agreement proposed by the Trump administration.
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which came into effect in November 2024, prevented a wider conflict after Hezbollah tried to drag Lebanon into war with the Jewish States after the October 7 attack. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem threatened Lebanon with ‘civil war’ if his terrorist militia was forced to hand over its weapons.
The Arutz Sheva/Israel National News reported:
The IDF on Friday evening struck a military structure and an underground infrastructure at a Hezbollah site, in which military activities were identified, in the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon.
“The presence of the site and the activity at the site constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
“The IDF will continue to operate in order to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel,” it added.
Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the strikes and said, “The IDF is currently targeting Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon. We remain committed to our policy of maximum enforcement and will not allow any threats to the residents of the north or to Israeli citizens.
“I send a direct message to Lebanese President Aoun: We hold you and the Lebanese government fully responsible for maintaining Lebanon’s sovereignty and upholding the ceasefire agreement. We will not return to the reality of October 7 and will continue to take decisive action against any violations,” added Katz.
Earlier on Friday, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem delivered an extended address in which he vowed that the terrorist organization “will not hand over its weapons as long as the occupation exists and aggression continues.”
Qassem accused the government of abandoning its duty to defend Lebanon, declaring, “Defend Lebanon, and let us build the country together, because it cannot be built by one component alone. This is our country, and we build its sovereignty together; otherwise, there will be no life for Lebanon if you stand on the other side. Either Lebanon remains and we remain together, or to the world, farewell.”
In October 2024, the IDF released seized documents revealing Hezbollah’s plan to invade northern Israel to massacre and kidnap thousands of Israeli soldiers and civilians. The plan was similar to the Hamas’ deadly October 7 terror attacks, but on a much larger scale.
To execute the “Conquer the Galilee” plan, the Lebanon-based Shia-Jihadist militia constructed terror tunnels and infrastructure close to Israeli towns and cities. The IDF preempted Hezbollah’s attack in September 2024, eliminating its leadership and decimating its terrorist fighting force in a wave of targeted airstrikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon.
Amid international pressure, Israel agreed to a ceasefire in late November 2024. Hezbollah has repeatedly violated the truce agreement by regrouping its terrorist forces and rebuilding its infrastructure along the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah is again flaunting its terrorist capabilities. The Iranian-sponsored terrorist group released a propaganda video on Friday, pledging that it “will not hand over the weapons.” The video featured clips of speeches by Nasrallah and other Hezbollah terrorists in the backdrop of rockets and missiles being fired across the border into Israel:
Hezbollah published a video on Friday titled "We will not betray… we will not hand over the weapons," making its position undoubtedly clear that it will not disarm despite the Lebanese government's disarmament plan. pic.twitter.com/7IvY5zzv5I
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) August 16, 2025
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Hopefully the IDF has good intelligence in Lebanon as they did in Iran.
Thanks for heads up, Vijeta.
Note that Hizballah was not a party to the ceasefire agreement. The agreement is between the governments of Israel, the USA, and Lebanon. And one of its requirements is that the Lebanese government disarm Hizballah, whether it likes it or not, and even at the cost of fighting a civil war to do it. Hizballah is now telling the government it will not cooperate, and it will indeed take a civil war to carry out its commitment. It’s betting that the government is not willing to do that.